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CIHM/ICMH
Microfiche
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CIHM/ICMH
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Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques
1980
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1
2
3
1
2
3
4
5
6
lUK
fi^^)
%\jt Jrittslr (Km|im
S^api in Canaba.
Its mitm,
€ommiitus anh Conatttutton,
INCtUDIMO
H^port of Annual ^^^ting,
BELD AT
OTTAWA, APRIL 28th, 1897.
•
TOBODTO :
The Cabsweix Co., Limitsd, Pbihtebb,
1897.
na
mmm
\
i^.l
The British Egpire League
OFFICES:
112 CANNON STREET, LONDON, E.C.
|3i'csibcnt :
His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, K.G,
Dkc-Jpresibcnts :
The Riglit Hon. tlie Lord Mayor of London.
The Governor of the Bank of EnL^hmd.
His Grace tlie Duke of Fife, K.T.
His Grace the Duke of Rutland, K.G.
The Most Hon. the Marquess of Dufierin and Ava, K.P.
G.C.B., etc.
The Right Hon. the Earl of Crewe.
The Right Hon. the Earl of Jersey, G.C.M.G.
The Earl of Onslow, G.C.M.G.
Lord Brassey, K.C.B.
Lord Rothschild.
The Right Hon. A. J. Balfour, M.P.
Sydney C. Buxton, M.P.
39on. treasurer:
The Right Hon. Sir John Lubbock, Bart., D.C.L., M.P.
Jlcting 3i)oit. ^vcasuvev ;
W. Herbert Daw, l^'.S.I.
(Shairman of tocutibe :
Sir Robert G. W. Herbert, G.C.B.
®
C. Freeman Murray.
CSxccutiUc (Eommittcc oi the QTouncil :
The Chairman.
The Hon. Treasurer.
The Acting Hon, Treasurer.
F. Faithfull^Begg, M.P.
The Right Hon. Sir George F. Bovven. G.C.M.G.
Lieut.-Gen. Sir Andrew Clarke, R.E., G.C.M.G., C.B., CLE.
Hon. R. R. Dobell, M.P. (Canada).
The Hon. Sir Charles W. Fremantle, K.C.B.
W. Beckett Hill.
Lt.-Col. P. R Innes.
V/. Culver James, M.D.
Nevile Lubbock.
Herman W. Marcus.
Sir Westby B. Perceval, K.C.M.G.
Hon. Sir Donald Smith, K.C.M.G.
Lord Tennyson.
Hon, Sir Charles Tupper, Bart., G.C.M.G., C.B., M.P.
(Canada).
(Others to be added.)
m COUNCIL OF THE mJM EMPIRE LEAGOE,
The Lord Mayor of London, Vice-President.
The Governor of the Bank of Ent^hind, Vice-Premfunt.
Ri<,dit Hon. A. J. Balfour, M.P., Vire-President.
*F. Faithfull Bepr<r, M.P.
*Right Hon. Sir George F. Bowen, G.C.M.G.
Lord Brassey, K.C.B., Vice-President.
W. A. Briscoe.
Sydney Buxton, M.P., V'lre-President.
tJ. M. Clark (Canada).
Lieutenant-Gen. Sir Andrew Clarke, G.C.M.G., Ap^ent-
General for Victoria.
Caesar Czarnikow.
*VV. Herbert Daw, F.S.I., Aetlnc) Hon. Treasurer.
fljieut.-Col. G. T. Denison, M P., Canada, President of
the League in Canada. ,.
The Duke of Devonaliire, K.G., President.
James Dickie.
*Hon. R. B. Dobell, (M.P., Canada).
Sir Henry Doulton.
The Marquis of Dufferin, K.P., G.C.B., G.C.S.I..
G.C.I.E., Vice-President.
David Evans.
C. Washington Eves.
The Duke of Fife, K.G., Vice-President.
*The Hon. Sir Charles W. Fremantle, K.C.B.
tSandford Fleming, C.M.G. (Canada).
The Hon. Alban Gibbs, M.P.
Lord Glenesk.
George J. Gribble.
Sir Reginald Hanson, Bart., M.P.
nV. Beckett Hill.
E. Brodie Hoare. M.P.
E. C. P. Hull.
BRITISH EMI'IUE LEAGUE.
*Lieutenant-Col. P. R. Innes.
*W. Culver James, M.D.
The Earl of Jersey, G.C.M.G., Vice President.
Henry Kimber, M.P.
•Riglit Hon. Sir Jolm Lubbock, Bart., M.P., Honorary
Treasurer.
tH. H. Lyman (Canada).
*Nevile Lubbock.
fD'Alton McCarthy (Q.C.. M.P., Canada).
John M. Macdonald.
tAle.x. McNeill, MP., Canada.
Oswald Magniac.
•Herman W. Marcus,
f J. Herbert Mason (Canada).
E. M. Nelson.
The Earl of Onslow, G.C.M.G., Vice-President.
J. Paddon.
fG. R. Parkin, LL.D. (Canada).
♦Sir Westby B. Perceval, K.C.M.G., Agent-General for
Tasmania.
Richard M. Roe.
George Roffey.
The Duke of Rutland, K.G,, Vice-President.
fj. T. Small (Canada).
tSir Donald Smith, K.C.M.G., High Commissioner for
Canada.
Sir Thomas Sutherland, K.C.M.G., MP.
John T. Taylor.
*Lord Tennyson.
*Hon. Sir Charles Tupper, G.C.M.G. (M.P., Canada).
G. D. Warrington.
J. White.
The Earl of Winchilsea.
Note. — '* Member of the Executive Committee, t Representing the League in Canada.
Stlj^ Iritislj ^rnpir^ WtE^m
'U
or
For
President:
Lt.-Col. Ceorge T. Denison.
Vice-Presidentia :
Ontaiuo.
D'Alton McCarthy, Esq., Q C, M.P.
Alex. McNeill, Esq.. M.P.
Quebec.
Sir Donald Smith, K.C.M.G.
Arch. McGoun, Esq.
New Brunswick. '
The Hon. Senator Wood.
R. C. Weldon, Esq., Q.C.
Nova Scotia.
Lt.-Gov. M. B. Daly.
His Grace Archbishop O'Brien.
Prince Edward Island.
Lt.-Gov. G. W. Howlan.
Manitoba.
Lt.-Gov. J. C. Patterson.
North- West Territories.
Lt.-Gov. C. H. Mcintosh.
British Columbia.
Lt.-Gov. Edgar Dewdney.
Hon. Treasurer:
John T. Small, Esq., Equity Chambers, Toronto.
Hon. Secretary :
George E. Evans, Esq., 38 Canada Life Bldg., Toronto.
6
imiTIHH EMPIRE LEAGUE.
Kx«cntlirc Commlttoe :
H. Bostock, E8(|., M.P.
D. Crei^hton, Ein\.
C. J. Campbell, Esq..
J. M. Clark, Esq.
G. R. R. Cockburu, Esfi.
T. W. Cmijr, Esq., M.P.
Sandford Fleniirijv, C.M.C.
George Gooderhain, Esq.
Major S. Hughes, M.P.
F. H. Holgate, Esq.
J. Castell Hopkins, Escj.
Commander Law, R.N.
A. H. Eraser Lefroy, Esq.
H. H. Lyman, Esq.
J. Herbert Mason, Esq.
T. E. Moberly, Esc).
H. M. Mowafc, Es(i.
Thomas Macfarlane, Esq., F.R.S.C.
W. Hamilton Merritt, Esq.
Lt.-Col. the Hon. E. G. Prior, M.P.
George R. Parkin, Esq., LL.D.
Clive Phillip.s-Woolley, Esq.
G. S. Ryerson, Esq., M.D.. M.P.P.
Larratt Smith, Esq., Q.C., D.C.L.
T. S. Sproule, Esq., M.D., M.P.
J. W. St. John, Esq., M.P.P.
S. D. Scott, Esq.
E. E. Sheppard, Esq.
Sir C. H. Tupper, K.C.M.G., M.P.
Lt.-Col. R. Tyrwhitt, M.P.
John A. Worrell, Esq., Q.C.
H. J. Wiekham, Esq.
D. R. Wilkie, Es(i.
THE COUNCIL OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE LEAGUE IN CANADA.
Thoie with an Asterisk bofora their names are Members of the
Executive Committee.
Allan, Hon. Q. W., Moss Park, Toronto.
Arnoldi, Frank, Q.C., Bay Street, Toronto.
Baker, E. Crow, V'etoria, B.C.
Baldwin, Rt. Rev. M. S., D.D., Lord Bi.shop of Huron.
Barron, J. A., Q.C., Lindsay, Ont.
Beatty, W. H., Queen's Park, Toronto.
Beers, W. George, Montreal.
Bird, Henry J., Bracebridge, Ont.
Birks, Henry, Montreal.
Blackstock, George T,, Q.C., Toronto.
Blain, Hugh, Toronto.
Bourinot, J. Gr., Ottawa.
Brown, Adam, Hamilton, Ont.
Brock, W. R., Toronto.
♦Bostock, H., M.P.
Cumberland, B., Toronto.
Caldecott, Stapleton, Toronto.
Cahan, Charles H., Halifax, N.S.
♦Campbell, C J., 24 Toronto St., Toronto.
Carpenter, F. M., M.P., Stony Creek, Ont.
Casey, George E., M.P., Fingal Ont.
Catto, John, 59 King Street E., Toronto.
Clarke, E. F., 16 Harbord Street, Toronto.
*Clark, J. M., Wellington Street E., Toronto.
Cochrane, E., Brighton, Ont.
*Cockburn, G. R. R., Sherbourne Street, Toronto.
Cocksiiutt, W. F., Brantford, Ont.
Courtney, Rt. Rev. F., S.T.D., D.D., Halifax, N.S.
Creelman, A. R., Q.C., Toronto.
Cowan, W. F., Oshawa Ont.
Clark, Rev. Prof., Toronto.
Creighton, '^ 'T'oronto.
♦Craig, T. .
HRITISF EMPIRE LEAGUE.
*Daly, Hon. M. B., Lt.-Gov. Nova Seot.ia, Halifax.
*Denison, Lt.-Col. G. T., Toronto.
Dobell, Hon. R. R., House of Commons, Ottawa.
Denison, Major Septimus, London, Ont.
Davidson, Lt.-Col. John I., Toronto.
Dow, Thomas, Windsor, Ont.
*Dewdney, Lt.-Gov., Victoria.
*Evans, George E., Toronto.
Ferguson, Hon. Donald, Charlottetown, P.E.L
*FIeming, Saudford, C.M.G,, Ottawa.
Fi'aser, R. L., Toronto.
Foster, Hon. George E., M.P., Ottawa.
Gowan, Hon. G. R,, Barrie, Ont.
Grant, George M., LL.D., Kingston, Ont.
Gzowski, Sir Casimir S., K.C.M.G., A.D.C. to the
Queen, Toronto, Ont.
Gray, Rev. John, Orillia, Ont.
*Gooderham, George, Toronto.
Hague, George, Merchants' Bank, Montreal.
Hale, G. H., Orillia, Ont.
Hall, R. M., Sherbrooke, Que.
Hpzen, J. D., St. John, N. B.
Hamilton, Rt. Rev. C, D.D,, Lord Bishop of Ottawa,
Ottawa.
Hay, Major John D., St. George Street, Toronto.
Henshav/, F. W., Montreal.
Hodgins, Thos., Q.C., Osgoode Hall, Toronto.
*Holgate, F. H., King Street W., Toronto.
*Hopkin8, J. Castell, 227 Major Street, Toronto.
*Howlan, Lt.-Gov., Charlottetown, P.E.L
Hughes, James L., Toronto.
*Hughes, Major Sam., Lindsay, Ont.
Halifax, His Grace Archbishop of Halifax, N.S.
Johnson, Alex., McGill College, Montreal.
Judge, Edgar, Montreal.
Kenny, Thomas K.^Halifax, N.S.
Kirkpatrick, Hon. Geo. A., Government House, Toronto
Kirby, W., Niagara, Ont.
f
BRITISH EMPIRE LEAGUE. <
*La\v, Comnmnder R. N., Sherbourne Street, Toronto.
*Lefroy, A. H. Fraser, Toronto.
Lonrr, Rev. John H., Windsor, Ont.
Lyman, Henry, Montreal.
*Lyman, Henry H., 384 St. Paul Street, Montioal.
*Macfarlane, Thomas, F.R.S.C., Ottawa.
Maclnnes, Hon. Donald, Hamilton, Ont.
♦Mackintosh, Lt.-Gov., Regina, N.W.T.
Mackenzie, A., Sprucedale, Ont.
Machin, R3^^ C. J., Gra\'enhurst, Ont.
Macmaster, iJonald, Q.C., Montreal.
*Mason, J. Herbert, Toronto.
Matthews, Jehu, Toronto.
*Merritt, W. Hamilton, Toronto.
Mills. John B., M.P., Annapolis, N.S.
Montague, Hon. W. E , M.D., M.P., Duiuiville, Ont.
*Moberley, T. E., Toronto.
Murray. J. P., Toronto.
*Mowat, H. M., Toronto.
McCallum, Lachlan. Stromne.ss, Ont.
McLellan, Hugh, Montreal.
McKergow, M., Montreal.
*McCarthy, D'Alton, Q.C., M.P., Toronto.
*McNeill, Alex., M.P., Ottawa.
*McGoun, Arch., 181 St. James Street, Montreal.
Nelson, E. G., St. John, N.B.
O'Brien, Lt.-Col., M.P., Shanty Bay, Ont.
Osier, E. B., M.P., Toronto.
Osborne, J. Kerr, Toronto.
*0'Brien, His Grace Archbishop, Halifax, N.S.
Palmer, Judge, St. John, N.B.
*Parkin, G. R., LL.D., Toronto.
Potts, Rev. John, D.D., Toronto.
*Patterson, Lt.-Gov., Winnipeg.
♦Prior, Lt.-Col. The Hon. E. G., M.P., House of Com-
mons, Ottawa.
♦Phillips- Woolley, Clive, Victoria, B.C.
Robertson, George, St. John, N.B.
I
It
I I
10 BRITISH EMPIRE LEAGUE.
Robinson, C, Q.C., Toronto.
Ross, Hon. G. W., Toronto.
*%erson, George S., M.D., M.P.P., Toronto.
Skinner, C. N., St. John, N.B.
Shannon, R. W., Ottawa.
*Small, John T., Toronto.
Stairs, John F., Halifax, N.S.
Sullivan, Rt. Rev. Bishop, Toronto.
*Smith, Larratt, Q.C., D.C.L., Toronto.
Sheppard, E. E., Toronto.
Symons, D. T., Tcronto.
Svveatinan, Rt. Rev. A., D.D., Bishop of Toronto,
Toronto.
*Smith, Sir Donald, K.C.M.G., Montreal.
*Sproule. T. S., M.D., M.P.
*St. John, J. W., M.P. P., Toronto.
*Scott, S. D., St. John, N.B.
*Sheppard, E. E., Toronto.
Thomas, J, Wolferstan, Montreal.
Tisdale, Lt.-Col. D., M.P., Simcoe, Oat.
Tupper, Sir Charles, Bart., G.C.M.G., Ottawa.
*Tupper, Sir C. H., K.C.M.G., Ottawa.
*Tyrwhitt, Lt.-Co]., M.P., Bradford, Ont.
Walsh, Most Rev. John. D.D,, Archbishop of Toronto,
Toronto.
Wallace, Hon. N. Clarke, M.P., Woodbridge, Ont.
Walsh, M., Ingersoll, Ont.
*We]don, R. C, Halifax, N.S.
Wilson, Rev. Robt., D.D., St. John, N.B.
Wood, Hon. John F., M.P., Ottawa.
*Wood, Hon. Senator Josiah, Sackville, N.B.
*Wickham, H. J., Toronto.
*Willde, D. R., Toronto.
*Worrell, J. A., Q.C., Toronto.
Wickstead, R. J., Ottawa.
CONSTITUTION.
1. The Association to be called " The British Empire
League in Canada."
2. It shall be the primary object of the League to
secure the permanent unity of the Empire.
3. The following to be among the other principal
objects of the League :
{(i) To promote trade between the United Kingdom,
the Colonies and India, and to advocate the holding of
periodical meetings of representatives from all parts of
the Empire for the discussion of matters of general com-
mercial interest, and the consideration of the best means
of expanding the national trade.
(h) To consider how far it may be possible to modify
any laws or treaties which impede freedom of action in
the making of reciprocal trade arrangements between the
United Kingdom and the Colonies, or between any two
or more British Colonies or Possessions.
(c) To promote closer intercourse between the differ-
ent portions of the Empire by the establishment of
cheaper, and, where required, more direct steam and tele-
graphic communication, preference being given to routes
not traversing foreign territory.
(d) To develop the principles on which all parts of
the Empire may best share in its general defence, en-
deavoring to bring into harmony public opinion at Home
and in the Colonies on this subject, and to devise a perfect
co-operation of the military and navt, rces of the Em-
pire with a special view to the due protection of the
trade i-outes.
12
BRITISH EMPIRE LEAGUE.
r
{e) To assimilate, as far as local circumstances per-
mit, the laws relating to copyright, patents, legitimacy
and bankruptcy throughout the Empire.
4. The League shall use every constitutional means
to bi'ing about the objects for which it is established, and
shall invite the support of men of all shades of political
opinion throughout the Empire.
5. The League shall advocate the establishment of
periodical conferences to deal with such questions as may
appear ripe for considei*ation, on the lines of the London
Conference of 1887 and the Ottawa Conference of 1894.
6. The membership shall be open to any British sub-
ject who accepts the principles of the League and pays a
yearly subscription of at least one dollar.
7. The League shall meet annually in one of the
principal cities of Canada, the time and place of meeting
for each year to be selected by the Executive Committee.
8. The business of the League shall be conducted by
a Council and Executive Committee, to be appointed at
the annual meeting, and with power to add to their num-
ber. The Council and Executive Committee shall have
charge of the work of the League in Canada ; they shall
adopt such means as they may find expedient to promote
the objects of the League, and they shall furnish a report
at the annual meeting.
9. The co-operation of men of all political parties in
every part of Canada is sought for the establishment of
branches, which shall have power to elect representatives
on the Council.
10. The officers of the League to be a President, two
Vice-Presidents for each Province, an Honorary Secretary
and an Honorary Treasurer.
At the special general meeting held at Ottawa on
May 29, 1894, when the Imperial Federation League in
Canada adopted the name of the British Empire League
BRITISH EMPIRE LEAGUE.
13
in Canada and its constitution, it was moved by Thomas
Macfarlane, Esq., seconded b^;' Alex. McNeill, Esq., M.P.,
and carried unanimously. That the principles advocated
by the Imperial Federation League, as set out below,
should be endorsed by the new /jeague and adopted bv it :
(a) To advocate a trade policy between Great
Brii/ain and her Colonies, by means of which a
discrimination in the exchange of natura.! and
manufactured products will be made in favor of
one another and against foreign nations.
(h) To bring about the discontinuance in com-
mercial treaties with foreign countries of clauses
preventing the different portions of the Empire
from making such internal fiscal arrangements
between themselves as they may think proper.
(c) To make every effort to establish a British
Commercial Union, based as nearly as practicable
upon freer trade within the Empire, and upon the
imposition of a small extra duty on foreign imports
to provide funds for Imperial defence.
i
THE ANNUAL MEETING
c-^
1897.
__?^-»
The annual meeting was held in the Railway Com-
mittee room of the House of Commons, Ottawa, on
Wednesday, the 28th of April, 1897, at 10 a.m.
The President, Lieut.-Col, George T, Denisor of
Toronto, occupied the chair.
There were present: Sir Charles Tupper, Bart., Af.P.;
Sir Donald Smith, K.C.M.G., Vice-President ; Arch. Mc-
Goun, Esq., Vice-President ; Alex. McNeill, Esq., M. P.,
Vice-President; Hon. R. R. Dobell, M. .'^ ; Sir Hibbert
Tupper, M.P., Hon. Senator Allan, Senator Almon, Senator
Boulton, Senator Sanford, Senator Wood, Senator Aikens,
Wm. Lount, M.P., Dr. Sproule, M.P., Major Hughes, M.P.,
E. F. Clarke, M.P., James McMullen, M.P., Andrew Broder,
M.P., J. A. Gillies, M.P., E. Cochrane, M. P., F. H. Hale,
M.P., George Casey, M.P., Lieut.-Col. the Hon. E. G. Prior,
M.P., Henry Cargill, M.P., Thomas Earle, M.P., Hector Mae-
dougall,M.P., E. B. Osier, M.P., A. Macdonald, M.P., T. D.
Craig, M.P., Wm. McCleary, M.P., J. McAllister, M.P., A.
C. Bell, M.P., A. Martin, M.P., W. T. Hodgins, M.P., Lieut.-
Col. Tyrwhitt, M.P., Dr. Lankerkin, M P., W. C. Edwards,
M.P., A. Semple, M.P., J. P. Morin, M.P., L. E. Duga,s.M.P.,
R. L. Richardson, M.P., A. T. Wood, M.P., A. McLennan,
M.P., Major Sutherland, M.P., J. M. Hurley, M.P., George
V. McLierny, M.P G. W. Ganong, M.P., T. B. Flint, M.P.,
John B. Mills, M.I., R. L. Borden, M.P., C. E. Kaulbach,
M.P., Joseph A. Gillies, M.P., A. Martin, M.P., J. W. St.
John, M.P.P., Dr. G. Sterling Ryerson, M.P.P., J. P. Whit-
ney, M.P.P., Leader of Ontario Opposition; J. M. Clark,
Esq., W. B. McMurrich, Esq., and H. J. Wickham, Esq., of
Toronto; Thomas MacFarlane, Esq., F.R.S.C; R.J. Wick-
steed, Esq., and J. E. Geiwmel, Esq., of Ottawa ; Nicol Kings-
mill, Esq., and others.
BRITIRH EMPIRE LEAOUE.
15
After the Ho i. Secretary, Mr. George E. Evans, had
read the minutea of the last raeet'tif^,
The President moved the adoption of cho Annual
Report of the Executive Coniniittee. In doing so he called
attention to the three principal features, viz., the endoraa-
tion of the efforts of the League in England towards
getting a uniform bankruptcy law in the Dominion, which,
he said, was a necessity for the encouragement of trade
between the Mother Oountiy and Canada, and a simple
matter of justice to the English creditor; to the deputation
that waited upon the Tariff Commission to call their atten-
tion to the views expressed by the lit. Hon. Joseph
Chamberlain at the congress of Chambers of Congress in
June last, and the passing of a resolution favoring the
fast line of steamers. Continuing, he said the people of
Canada had almost universally adopted the idea of prefer-
ential trade throughout the Empire, but they should
endeavor to get the British Government to give the
colonies an advantage in the home markets. Various
inducements might be offered in return, such, for instance,
as the new tariff policy of the Government giving the
Empire a preference over the foreigner, a principle that
niiffht be carried to a much (greater extent. Some assist-
ance miixlit also be fjiven towards the defence of sea
routes, which ^s so important a matter to the Empire. But
there were other and much stronger grounds upon which
he urged that the colonies should be granted a preference
in the home max'kets.
As a matter of safety to the whole Empire, he held
that it was essential that the food to feed the British
people should be grown upon British soil. At present, if
Russia and the United States were to combine to place an
embargo on food products, he was very much afraid they
could bring England to her knees before very long. He
held that this was more important to Great Britain than
to Canada, and in the interest of Great Britain alone she
should see that her food supply was grown where, in case
16
BRITISH EMPIRE LEAGUE.
of war, slio couUl j;et it. A. preference 1 1 her colonies and
her own farmers would soon produce tlie .supply- from lands
under her own Wiv^. Few people knew the j<resent unsafe
condition of affhirs. Tiie United Kingdom imported in the
year 1896 of wheat and flour 9l,J^22,000 cwt. Of this
enormous import about 8,000,000 cwt. came from within
the Empire, while foreigners su])plied 88,000,000, of wliich
Russia, the United States and Turkey controlled over
71,000,000 cwt., or nearly four-fifths. The home crop in
1895 was only 4,(550,000 quarters, or about 20,000,000
cwt., from which the seed has to be deducted, so that four
people out of every five in the British Isles are fed with
bread from abroad.
When the supply of grain of all kinds that might be
used for food was considered, the figures were equally
startling.
The total quantity of wheat, wheaten flour, barley,
maize, rye and oats exported in the year ending 31st July,
1895, by all the exporting countries of the world amounted
to 98,327,000 quarters. Of this Russia, Turkey and the
United States controlled 82,600,000, leaving only 16,100,000
quarters for all the importing countries of the world. It
would be easily seen that a combination of Russia, Turkey
and the United States putting an embargo, as a war
measure, on the export of food products, would leave
three-fourths or four-fifths of the inhabitants of the
British Islands without farinaceous food.
It was not to be forgotten that a command of the sea
as absolute as that which existed after Trafalgar, a com-
mand which would have swept every foreign vessel from
the ocean, would not enable England to carry food which,
grown by her enemies, she could not get. He held that it
was of the utmost importance therefore, in the interests of
Great Britain herself, that there should be preferential
trade within the Empire, so that corn and food products,
cattle, cheese, butter, etc., coming from within the Empire
should have an advantage in the markets of the Empire
BlllTLSII EMPIRE LEAGUE.
17
ipire
ipire
over the products of foreij^n countries. The result of such
a system would be to give a tremendous impetus to the
pi'oduction of food supplies both at home and in the
colonies, and would turn the ti«"e of immigration from the
United States and other hosiile countries into Canada,
New Zealand, Australia and other Jjritish colonies. A fair
tariff on wheat and all grain would, he thought, very soon
cause enough to be grown in Canada to make the Empire
safe Mr. Long, who had gone very closely into the sub-
ject in an article in the " Nineteenth Century," estimated
that 55,000 more farmers, each growing 100 acres of wheat
a year in the north-west of Canada, would place Great
Britain out of danger. This was most important to the
English people. The sea route from Canada to England
was the safest and the most easily defended by which
Great Britain could get her food supply. It would there-
fore be to the direct advantage of Great Britain to give
Canada a preference which would increase the wheat-
groning area of the Dominion and the number of stalwart
settlers who would defend it. The Venezuelan difficulty
with the United States had convinced many leading men
in England of the necessity of providing a safe food supplj',
and had converted many of them to the idea of preferential
trade.
The Hon. R. R. Dobell, in seconding the adoption
of the report, referred to the fact that a meeting had been
held in that very room twenty years ago, at which meet-
ing a deputation had been appointed to endeavor to move
the different Chambers of Commerce in England to a sup-
port of our principles of Inter-Imperial Preferential Trade.
He referred to the fact that it was owing to the
pressure brought to bear by the Canadian T c::gue through
the efforts of the Executive Conmiittee in Toronto, who
sent word across to them in England, urging them to held
fast, and that being followed up by a deputation from the
League in Canada,which had helped very materially to keep
the City of London Branch in existence after the dissolu-
18
lUlITlSH EMl'lKE LEAOUK.
tion of the old Imperial Federation Learjuo, and cxi-rted a
great influence upon the formation of the present British
Empire League.
Personally, he did not see any insuperable diflicultiea
in the way of a gre.it Imperial Parliament, in which the
whole Empire should be represented, being formed in the
future.
8lli ChauLES Tupper said that while he did not wish
to throw cold water on tlu> Imperial Fetleration idea, he
should be very sorry to thiidc that the great objects they
had in view in promoting the unity of the Empire were tv)
be deferred until that idea had been achieved. The diffi-
culties in the way of a great Federal Parliament appeared
to be insuperable. The fact that in a comparatively short
period the population of the IJritish colonies, who would be
represented in such a Parliament, would exceed that of the
United Kingdom, wcMild make it very difficult to induce
the British Parliament to place the control of Great Britain
and the Empire in the hands of those who were now
colonists, but who in such a Parliament would soon be in a
majority. In the next place, he was inclined to believe
that the people of Canada, and what he trusted at an early
date would be the great confederation of Au.stralasia,
would be equally indi.sposed to surrender those rights of
sulf-government they now possessed, and be controlled by
a Parliament sitting in London. Those who had given the
closest attention to this subject had arrived at the conclu-
sion that there was no means by which that great bond of
sentiment between the Mother Country and the colonies
could be better strengthened than by a combination of
commercial interests that should make it of equal impor-
tance to England and the colonics that trade between them
should be upon a preferential basis — (hear, hear) — that.while
a preference was given to Great Britain in the markets of
Canada, Great Britain ought to return to the policy
formerly in operation of placing the produce of the colonies
in the markets of the Mother Countiy on more favorable
BRITISH EMPIRE LEAGUE.
19
terms tlmn that of foreign countries. Sir Charles bore
testimony to the advance that pul)lic sentiment in favor of
preferential trade had made in En<^dand, as evidenced by
the speech of Mr. Joseph Chainhcrlnin to the Congress of
Chambers of Connnerce, in IBiKI, when the latter declared
he was prepared, under certain circumstances, to review
the present policy of free trade in England and to reimpose
the duty which fornicrly existed upon the products of
foreign countries coming into competition with the pro-
ducts of the e(jl<)nies in Great Britain. This sjieech had
brought preferential trade within measurable distance of
adoption, and it was now only a ijuestion of time. He did
not intend to enter upon the debatable ground as to the
best means of obtaining that object; he hoped the League
would alwa^'s represent the gentlemen comjiosing both the
great political parties. (Hear, iiear.) The leaders in each
case had given their adhesion to this ([uestion, and its
importance was fully appreciated by the great body of
intelligent people in this country. The chairman had
referred to the vast importance to Great Britain of a food
supply. Before the Venezuelan difficulty had been a week
old the attention of every intelligent man in England had
been directed to this question, and an impetus was tliereby
given to the subject of preferential trade which moved it
considerably in advance of the position it had heretofore
occupied. Mr. Long, in an article in the Nineteenth Cen-
tury, had pointed out that the development of the North-
West would entirely remove the difficulty of the food
supply. In that view Sir Charles concuri-ed. The North-
West possessed enormous possibilities which would be
developed by preferential trade. They were sometimes
reminded of the disappointnient they felt that the North-
West did not develop with the rapidity at one time
anticipated, but the change in the price of wheat since the
time their sanguine calculations were made would, to a
very large extent, explain that delay. From a price that
gave the farmer a handsome return, wheat had dropped to
a figure which gave little or no return. Bearing in mind
20
lilUTISII EMPIRE LEAGUE.
hi
,
the reniotoness of the North-Wesfc Ironi the nuirket,
prol'crontiiU trade would do what the Indian fannne fund
had unfoi'tunately do!ie, to some extent, give an enlmnred
vahie to wheat, and the result would be to make the
North-West blossom as a rose. The result of havin<,' the
products of the North-West admitted to the British
market on better terms than were the products of foreii;n
countries would be to transfer millions of capital and
thousands of agriculturists to the North-West. Those
people would be anxious to cultivate that country, and
furnish Britain with all the food she required. He con-
cluded by movin,i,^ "That this Leat^ue, feeling the great
advantage to Canada and the Empire of establishing a
s^'stem of preferential trade within the Empire, would
respectfully urge upon the Canadian Government to take
action upoii the suggestion made by the Right Hon. Joseph
Chamberlain at tho Congress of Chambers of Commerce in
London last Jur,« and arrange for a conference with him
to consider the jest method of carrying out what is
evidently the desire of, and would tend to promote the
advantage of, the whole British Empire."
Mu. Wm. Lount, M. p., expressed his deligh.t at the
remarks of Sir Charles Tuppei'. It was quite evident that
the purposes of the League were being developed with
marked rapidity. (Hear, hear.) No one could help but
notice how the idea of preferred trade within the Empire
was growing. He could not but express himself in hearty
accord with the resolution. The unity of the colonies was
now moot pronounced. This confederation would be able
hereafter to preserve Great Britain from all attacks, but
so far as Canada is concerned she should be brought to
contribute as largely as possible towards that result, pro-
moting as she would at the same time her own interests.
The resolution was adopted.
niUTISII EMPIRE LEAGUE.
21
The Fast Line.
Sill Donald Smith arose amid applause, and expressed
tlie privilege lie felt at being present They were to have
in Canada this summer the British Association and the
British Medical Association, including men from every
part of the United Kingdom. He trusted that the visitors
would prove to be the very best sort of agents to advertise
the advantages of this country in Great Britain. Referring
to the growth of the grain trade in the Wes^'ern States, he
said the settlers in Manitoba and the North- West Terri-
tories possessed even greater advantages. He did not see
why, if the proper means were employed, there should not
be, within a comparatively short time, a population in tlie
North-West which would ensure the prosperity of the
whole Dominion. (Hear, hear.) Speaking of the projected
fast line steamship service, he thought if properly managed
it could not fail to be a commercial success. This was not
a party question. (Hear, hear.) On this subject he moved
the following resolution : " That this League views with
satisfaction the prospect of the early establishment of a
line of fast steamers between this country and Europe, and
expresses the hope that before long Canada may have
facilities of transport across the Atlantic equal to those
employed by any other country." Continuing, and speak-
ing on the subject oi preferential trade, he hoped that with
the help of the Colonial Secretary and other Ministers of
the Crown further steps in that direction would soon be
taken. He moved the resolution in no party spirit, but
solely with an eye to the best interests of the country.
(Hear, hear.) Other countries had been moving in this
direction for years. Why should Canada be behind ? They
were determined not to be behind. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Alex. McNeill, who seconded the resolution,
briefly expressed his pleasure at the notable advance made
by the movement, which was especially significant in the
jubilee year.
22
imiTISH EMPIRE LEAGUE.
The resolution was carried after Captain Wickham
had said a few words in support of the extension of the
Royal Nava] Reserve system to Canadian seamen.
Distinguished Visitors.
This led Sir Charles Tupper to point out that this
was a feature of the projected fast Atlantic service, which,
he believed, would be of great help in promoting immi-
gration, as intending settlers were afraid of the long ocean
voyage, and therefore went to New York. With reference
to the visit of the British Association to Canada, he men-
tioned the fact that when they were invited tu Montreal
some years ago, he had great difficulty in p/evailing upon
Lhem to come, but there had been so nmch change of
sentiment in the meantime that tlie invitation to Toronto
for this year ^vas accepted without hesitation, and with the
great enthusiasm. He agreed with Sir Donald Smith that
the visit of the British Medical Association to Montreal
was of the very greatest importance to Canada.
Mr. McFarlane, Dominion Analj'st, wished to alter
the wording of the constitution of the League, but was
satisfied by the meeting reaffirming a certain resolution
passed last year.
Senator Boultox had a resolution expressing pleasure
at the introduction of the preferential tariff by the Gov-
ernment, but on the entreaty of Mr. McNeill not to intro-
duce political or controversial questions, he agreed not to
press it.
Major Sam. Hughes, M.P., moved, and Dr. Ryerson,
M.P.P., seconded, the appointment of the officers.
The lists, as appointed, will be found at length on
previous pages.
The Hon. George W. Allan, moved a vote of thanks
to the Chairman, which was seconded by Sir Charles
Hibbert Tupper and carried.
BRITIST EMPIRE LEAGUE.
23
In acknowlerlgincr the vote of thanks, the Chairman
stated that he had received a cablegram from London,
England, conveying the good wishes of the League at
home. He also read Mr. Rudyard Kipling's poem" " Our
Lady of the Snows," which was handed up to him by
J. Ross Robertson, Esq., M.P., Toronto, who had had it
cabled to him. It was received with great applause
The meeting then adjourned.