Evening star., 1943-01-12
Canadian Papers
Take Issue With
Hart on Annexation
Others Regard Historians 5
Suggestion as Not Worth
Serious Consideration
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
TORONTO, Jan. 12.-Prof. Albert
Bushnell Hart's suggestion that the
United States should annex Cam
ada after the war Is not regarded
by most Canadian newspapers %
any indication of general feeling
In the American Republic.
The 88-year-old professor emeri-
tus of Harvard University said re-
Gently that "Russias ability to stick
1t out against the Germans viii be
one Of the keys to eventual victory,
but the United States should an
mex Canada in the peace settlement
lest the Russians, In = postwar
expansion Of Siberia, should have
designs on an independent or Brit
ish-dominated Canada"
While there was no official govern.
ment reaction to his Views, many
Canadian newspapers took issue
with the suggestion, while others
said it was not worthy Of serious
consideration.
The Winnipeg CManitoba) Tribune
said that it Is not necessary to an
mex neighboring countries for hem
isphere defense. "The joint Ameri-
can-Canadian Defense Commission
has the question of continental de-
tense in hand. There is not the
slightest need of annexation"
Regarded as Joke.
w. L. Clark, writing in the Wind
sor (Ontario) Star, said: prof.
Hart can have his little joke and
get q kick out Of suggesting that
territorial aggrandizement is all
right for the United States, but all
wrong for any other country. Just
don't axe the old boy too seriusly."
French language newspaper LIE
Devoir Of Montreal said: "French
Canadians have always rejected any
proposal Of possible annexation
BY the United States. Their ideal
Is to live in a free country on a
friendly basis with Great Britain
and France, closely cooperating
with the United States in the de-
Tense of North America and its nat
ural resources"
Soliel Of Quebec, another French
language paper, said: Even if peace
does not give to the world centuries
OF fraternity and justice, it seems
that Russia will have enough to do
protecting its frontiers without try
ing to attack a friendly country"
The Montreal Herald said that
Prof. Hart's views show that he
has not kept abreast of history, and
particularly that he has no concep-
tion Of Canada's position in the
modern world or its actual relations
with the United States.
Bargaining Factor.
TT almost looks as If he thinks
Britain might be induced or forced
to use Canada as a bargaining fac
tor in peace developments, as if
Canada were still a British posses
sion.'
why he should imagine that
Russia could have any designs on
Canada is mystery, since 1t is
Alaska which is next-door neigh
Dor to Russia, not Canada"
The Toronto (Ontario) Globe and
Mail said: "As a historian Prof.
Hart cannot be questioned, but here
he has stepped into the realm of
politics and also of reality, and what
he says in this connection will not
be taken more sriously than similar
proposals from politicians who are
not historians or realists."
The Edmonton (Alberta) Jour-
nal said the suggestion Of annexa-
ton must be resented strongly not
only by the Russian government and
people, but in the United States and
Canada as we'll"
Held Not General Opinion.
It added that because of the pro-
fessor's reputation as a historian
his suggestion may be given more
attention than it deserves. "On that
account 1t cannot be overlooked en-
tirely, but must be repudiated In the
most emphatic terms by his own
Government"
The Calgary (Alberta) Herald
said Prof. Hart's suggestion was
'far removed from President Roose-
velt's good neighbor policy toward
Canada" and printed letter from
A. d. Winspear or the University
Of Wisconsin which said that Prof.
Hart's views do not represent re-
sponsible or popular opinion in the
United States"
George Wrong, professor emeritus
at the University Of Toronto, said
Prof. Hart's annexation idea was a
wild suggestion"
Chester Martin, head Of the his
tory department at the same uni
versity, called it a "mischievous re-
mark" and suggested that Canadians
pay no attention to it. Another
Toronto professor, George Brown,
called 1t nonsense"
n ~