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Appendix No. 6.
CANADA.
490
Inclosure 7 in No. 1.
War Office to Colonial Office.
Sir,
War Office, December 10, 1880. I HAVE laid before the Secretary of State for War your letter dated the 25th June last,* with its inclosed correspondence relative to the question of raising a Canadian contingent for the Imperial
reserve.
In reply, I am to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that, after giving the subject of Lord Lorne's despatch careful consideration, it appears to Mr. Childers that the proposal which it contains raises a question of primary importance, not referring to Canada only, but to all her Majesty's possessions beyond the seas. That question is whether it is expedient that Her Majesty's Government should defray the cost and, as a consequence, undertake the control of any local forces, whether in the nature of a standing army, or of militia, or of reserves, raised and serving in a Colony, especially in a Colony enjoying responsible government.
I am to state that, in Mr. Childers' opinion, the financial is not the most weighty element of this important question, which deeply concerns the future organization of the military power of the Empire; and that, standing alone, the proposal of Lord Lorne appears not very practical, but that its discussion should be preceded by a decision on the larger question.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
RALPH THOMPSON.
Sir,
Inclosure 8 in No. 1.
War Office to Colonial Office.
War Office, December 18, 1880.
I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Childers to forward herewith, for the information of the Earl of Kimberley, the accompanying Memorandum, which has been received from Lieutenant-General Sir E. Selby Smyth, on the subject of Canadian regular regiments, an Imperial reserve in Canada, and the localization of the 100th Royal Canadian Regiment in that Colony; and, in laying the same before Lord Kimberley, I am to request that you will state to his Lordship that Mr. Childers fears the proposals therein contained would be found impracticable.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
RALPH THOMPSON.
Inclosure 9 in No. 1.
Memorandam.
IN a recent communication from Canada, I have been requested to submit the following points for the consideration of His Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding-in-chief :-
1. Supposing that, according to the plan proposed in my annual Reports to Parliament in 1878 and 1880, a small force of regulars were raised in Canada, and the services of one or more regiments were given to England, on condition she should send a regiment to Canada, would the Imperial Govern- ment consent that the British regiment stationed in Canada should be as much under the control of the Governor-General in Council as the Canadian battalion serving in England would be under the control of the Home Government?
The Canadian Government want any regular troops they might raise to be disposable for civil disturbances, and the rotation proposal could not be carried out, except on the understanding that the battalion given up for Imperial service be replaced by a British line battalion to be used by them as their own battalion would be.
2. A three years' service with the Imperial army was proposed for the Canadian battalion; how could this three years' service be made conformable to the home shifts for Indian and Colonial service ?
Note.--It was only conceived that the rotation should be between Canada and England alternately, except in the case of war in Europe.
3. What would be the incidence of transport expenses?
Note.--My Report, grounded on the knowledge of Canada's inability to incur much expense, pro- posed that the British Admiralty transport service should perform this duty.
In pp. 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 of my annual Report to the Dominion Parliament, dated the 1st January, 1880, the question of raising three regular battalions of infantry in Canada, with a three years' rotation system between that country and Great Britain, was sketched out for consideration. In the same pages the subject of an Imperial reserve to be raised and maintained in Canada for gencral service was likewise dwelt upon.
As several copies of that Report were sent to the Imperial Government by his Excellency the Governor-General, a reference to it will demonstrate the nature of the plans proposed.
They were, in short, to the effect that, for financial considerations, a period of three years should be allowed to complete three full battalions of eight companies each, and eighty men per company; the battalion serving in England to be paid, while so employed, by the army estimates, and transported each way at Imperial cost, with the view that the mother-country should encourage and aid that important dependency of the Crown.
* Inclosure 6.
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