Evening star., 1942-01-04

tions, the same shift from agricultural
to manufacturing emphasis is apparent.
All this foreshadows increasing national
assertiveness on the part Of postwar
Canada.
Wartime expansion is building tho
basis of strong Canadian nationalism.
But simultaneously the wartime need for
cooperation is strengthening the poiti-
cal tie with Great Britain and forging
that intimate association with the
United States" to which Mr.. Churchill
referred in Ottawa.
It seems not unlikely that the Domin-
ion government will before long write
of the enormous and mounting debt
owed to it by Great Britain not merely
as a gesture of common purpose but as
practical step envisaging> postwar Brit
ain in the light of market for Cana
dian manufactures as well as for agri-
cultural produce.
Actually at hand is the striking recon-.
mendation of the newly established joint
Defense Production Committee Of Cam
ada and the United States This body
has officially recommended that all tariff
and trade barriers which impede the
free flow Of necessary munitions and war
supplies between the two countries should
be suspended or otherwise eliminated for
the duration Of the war"
Unlikely to Be Abandoned.
II Canada and the United States form
this foreshadowed customs union, 1t is
unlikely to be abandoned at the close Of
hostilities. In spite of specialized COM
petition, the general economic co-ordina-
ton to be expected will probably make
continuation of North American free
| trade area desirable for both parties
Such outcome will be the more likely if
| the war continues for several years, with
| increasing dominance OF governmental
| over private interests.
As Canada and the United States tend
10 coalesce, at least in the economic
field, their joint influence on British
policy will become enormous. Exhausted
by its stupendous war effort, drained of
financial reserves, largely dependent on
North American assistance for recovery.
the power Of direction will inevitably
swing westward from Britain across the
Atlantic, assuming that the wartime mer-
ger now obhterating the Canadian
American frontier proves continuous.
Until the entry Of the United States
into the war, there was much doubt as to
the outcome of the triangular relations
between Britain, Canada and the United
States. The rapid growth of Canadian
nationalism might well have led to the
development Of antagonisms. rather than
cooperation, between Washington and
Ottawa. Long range British interests
might have seemed to call for postwar
revival Of the imperial preference policy.
rather than for admitted dependence on
New World economic supremacy.
Opportunity for Canada
But since December the irritations
and suspicious interfering with the de-
yelopment Of unity amcag these English
speaking nations have been, at least
temporarily, swept away. And the seri-
Gus setbacks suffered by both the United
States and Great Britain In the Far
East serve only to emphasize the neces-
sity for that Joint effort now being plan.
ned in Washington.
In total war, coordination of military
effort means parallel coordination Of
both political and economic policy. 1t
means the enforced acceptance Of de-
velopments which in normal times would
be regarded as utterly impossible because
Of their variance from traditions or ac-
cepted ideas. And coordination Of mill
tary effort means, further, the establish
nent Of new practices which, If tried long
enough and eventually successful, will
not be wholly relinquished when the war
Is over.
The general character of the post
war world Is shrouded in obscurity. Yet
1t may be predicted with confidence that
one almost certain result will be further
erasure OF the already faint frontier be-
tween Canada and the United States.
And II the Canadians assume the leader
ship indicated by their strategic position
) this unity will almost automatically In
clude postwar Britain.
It is q remarkable opportunity, not so
, much as a magnet but as positive
catalytic agent, which Is opening for Ca
madam craftsmanship.