Evening star., 1941-04-27

Whatever the individual opinion as
to their military significance, there Is
one conclusion from the shattering events
of last week which would seem beyond
question. AS a result of the German
victories in the Balkans both the poit-
ical and the economic relations between
Canada and the United States should be
greatly strengthened
If there seems at first glance no con-
nection whatsoever, that is simply an
indication Of our habitual failure to ap-
preciate the closely integrated character
of the modern world.
The repercussions from events in the
Mediterranean will not stop short at the
shores of that inland sea AS Germany
proceeds with the consolidation of Eu-
rope by military force, an induced tend
ency toward consolidation, for purposes
of self-protection If for no other reason,
must be expected in other regions No
where is such a reaction more natural
and logical than in the geographic unit
formed by the North American continent.
Far-reaching cooperation between the
United States and Canada has long been
developing, in vague outline. A whole
year before the war, in his speech at
Kingston, Ontario, on August 18, 1898,
President Roosevelt far-sightedly pro-
phesied that: THE people of the United
States will not stand idly by if domina-
ton of Canadian soil is threatened by
any other empire"
t,f,o Lot
1910. President Roosevelt and Prime
Minister Mackenzie King announced the
formation of Permanent Joint Board
on Defense" For eight months now this
board has been functioning effectively,
and its activities paved the way for the
recent action whereby the United States,
as much in Canadian interest as in our
own, undertook the defense of the Danish
territory of Greenland.
Reciprocal Understanding Needed.
The most recent step in this process of
friendly Canadian American consolida-
ton was announced after the conference
between Mr.. Mackenzie King and Mr.
Roosevelt at Hyde Park last Sunday.
Their joint statement envisages what is
practically merger of the productive
capacity of the two nations. so far as
defense effort is concerned.
1t may be hoped that these various
agreements, tending to make Canada
and the United States permanent allies,
in fact if not in name, will soon be fol-
lowed by better American appreciation
OF the political economic and social
problems of Canada. For the successful
development of closer relations between
the two countries certainly will depend
in part on a reciprocal understanding at
present more advanced in the Dominion
than on this side of the border.
To some Americans. indeed, it may
even be a surprise to realize that Can
ada is larger in size than the United
States.
Excluding Newfoundland and Labra-
dor, which are not politically a part of
Canada, the Dominion has the vast area
of 1854 1863 square miles, as compared
with 3026,789 square miles for the con-
tinental United States. All of our outly-
ing possessions, including Alaska, the
Philippines, Hawaii and Puerto Rico,
must be included if we are to call Ameri-
can territory larger than that of Canada.
BY far the greater part of Canada,
however, is barren and practically un-
inhabitable. which helps to explain why
its estimated total population at the
present time is only II 800 900. as COM
pared with almost 13,5O0,OOO people
counted by the 1910 census in New York
State alone
Sparsely Settled.
In recent years Canada has been gain
ing population rapidly, both by natural
growth and immigration. But it is still
very sparsely settled, except for the strip
within 200 miles of the American border.
Nine out of every ten Canadians are con-
centrated in this narrow ribbon of land.
popularity which gives the country
certain unusual characteristics and helps
to explain why American influence is
much more pervaSive in Canada than in
Mexico, where the centers of population
and culture lie well to the south of the
international boundary.
Also surprising to some Americans is
the fact that the population of Canada
is now predominantly non-British. More
Canadians are of French than of Eng
lsh origin. If those of other European