Evening star., 1938-08-18

greatly advanced Do We need to
delay and to deprive our peoples Of
the immediate employment and profit,
or prevent our generation from reap
ing the harvest which is awaiting US?
Let me make, now. an unusual state.
nent. am sure you will not mis-
understand. consider that I have,
myself. . particular duty in connection
with st. Lawrence power. The almost
unparalleled opportunity which the
river affords has not gone unnoticed
by some of my friends on our side
OF the boundary. A conception has
been emerging in the, United States
which is not without q certain magnifi-
cence. This is no less than the con-
viction that If a private group could
control the outlet Of the Great Lakes
Basin. that group would have q mon
opoly in the development of territory
larger than many Of the great empires
in history.
Rights Of the Public.
If you were to search the records
with which my government is fam
iliar. you would discover that literally
every development Of. electric power,
save only the Ontario Hydro, Is allied
to. If not controlled by, q single Amer
ican group. with, of course, the usual
surrounding penumbra Of allies, anil
iates, subsidiaries and satellites. In
earlier stages of development of natu-
raj resources on this continent. this
was normal and usual. In recent
decades. however, We have come to
realize the implications to the public
to the individual men and women, to
businessmen. big and little. and even
to government itself. resulting from
the ownership by any group of the
right to dispose of wealth which was
eSanted to us collectively by Nature
herself.
The development of natural re-
sources and the proper handling OF
their fruits. is major problem OF
government. Naturally, no solution
would be acceptable to either which
does not leave its government entirely
master in its own house.
To put it bluntly, q group of Ameri-
can interests is here gradually putting
itself into position where, unless
caution Is exercised, they may in time
be able to determine the economic fate
of a large area, both in Canada and
the United States.
Now it is automatic in Canadian
American relations that both Of us
scrupulously respect the right of each
to determine its own affairs. For that
reason, when know that the opera
ton of uncontrolled American eco
nomic forces is slowly producing a re-
suit on the Canadian side Of the bor-
der, which I know very well must
eventually give American groups q
great influence over Canadian devel-
opment. I consider it the part Of q
good neighbor to discuss the question
frankly. The least can do is to call
attention to the situation as I see it.
Development Course.
Our mutual friendship suggests this
course in q matter of development as
great and as crucial as that of the
st. Lawrence. Fortunately among
friendly nations today this ist in
creasingly being done. Frank dis
cussion between friends and neighbcfs
is useful and essential. 1t is OBJ
vious today that some economic prob
lens are international, If only because
of the sheer weight which the solu-
tions have on the lives of people, IS
we'll as inside any one country To
my mind, the development Of St.
Lawrence navigation and power is
such problem.
I look forward to the day when q
Canadian Prime Minister and an
American President can meet to dedi-
cate, not bridge across this water, but
the very water itself, to the laSting
and productive use Of their respective
peoples. Until that day comes. and
I hope it may be soon, this bridge
stands as an open door There will
be no challenge at the border, and no
guards to ask countersign. Where
the boundary is crossed the only
word must be: Pass, friend"