The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1941-08-21
WNU Service, 1243 H Street, N. W..
Washington, d. C.

Washington, ID. c.
The breathless calm of a tropical
Washington Sunday was disturbed
by a unique gathering recently. 1t
took place in the midst Of the period
Of debate in the senate ove the
extension of military service for the
emergency army. But it was a
long way off from the Capitol. and
the setting was in sharp contrast
with the somewhat drab chamber
where 1.-The greatest de~liberative
body in the world" convenes.
We met, a little group Of newsmen.
In a stately room Of marble pilas-
tiers and ceiling-high mirrors. at the
top Of a wide staircase upon which
looked down the ermined figures Of
royalty. Through the doors Of the
room itself, their majesties King
George and Queen Elizabeth. had
passed when they graced that Ia
nous garden party at the British
embassy two years ago.
Some of US sat in the summer
covered furniture. some in gay lawn
chairs brought in to take care OF the
added number Of guests. There
was ice-water. and cigarettes were
offered. A smooth-faced, quick
spoken Briton, his majesty's high
commissioner to Canada. Malcolm
Mcdonald, faced us with a few
sheets of memoranda before him.
Purpose Of Visit.
He had come, he said. to dispel
certain inaccurate and unjust
statements" concerning Canada's
war efforts.
That, I felt, was only a part OF
his mission. I knew hat many OF
the letters written to American
congressman by their constituents
were protesting the extension of the
military service period on the
grounds that the United States. a
nation at peace, was asking more
of it's citizens than Canada, a nation
at war.
The commissioner spoke.
The first misconception which he
wished to correct, he said. was the
frequent statement that there is no
conscription in Canada. that her
youth serve only a few months with
the colors and are then returned to
civilian life. This is not the case,
he said, for every Canadian between
q and "a is subject to conscription
for defense and for the duration OF
the war. After four months OF in
tensive training these men are as
signed to military service within
Canada, thus relieving units OF the
regular army and navy and air
force for service abroad.
The conscripts cannot. by law, be
sent outside of Canada, Macdonald
explained, but SO many have volun
teered for foreign service that con-
scription for this purpose is unnec-
sal Canada has more men I'M
der arms today than she la al
any time during the last war.
Forty per zen of Canada's ma
tional income is devoted to her war
effort. That amount would be
equivalent, Macdonald said, to
SAC, 0OO, OOO, 900 reckoned in terms OF
United States income. For the sup
plies she sends to Britain, Canada
is not paid. The commissioner OIL
fered other detailed information,
some of which was confidential.
Tremendous Effort.
Canada has not been drawn will
ingly into this war. 1t is true, as
the British high commissioner said,
that her present effort. in proportion
to her population and wealth, is
tremendous. But it was not until
last May that by orders in coL1cll
military service for the duration OF
the war was established. At first
only 80 days of Intensive training
was REQUIRED. But now, indefinite
service is retroactive and all those
boys who did their 30 days and we're
discharged are called back to the
colors.
I could not help thinking of a line
from Kipling as I sat there IN the
transplanted Queen Anne palace
which is the British embassy and
heard that very earnest Scotsman
pleading the cause Of Canada. The
verse l thought of is from Our
Lady of the Shows and Canada
speaks: daughter am l in my
mothers house but mistress in my
own," she says.
The British commissioner was not
asking that the United States do for
England what Canada is doing for
her, But l could well imagine that
he was talking over our heads to
the men who would be in heated
debate in the senate chamber the
next day, deciding what the mill
tary duties of a citizen of the United
States are to be.