PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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responsibility, and which was to be raised for the purpose of defraying the cost of certain works of fortification required for the defence of the Dominion, an Act was passed in the month of May last, by the Legislature of Canada, for raising a loan of £1,100,000 accordingly.
This Act is still under the consideration
of Her Majesty's Government. But the pledge of the Imperial Guarantee having been given upon the supposition that greater exertions than heretofore would be made by the Local Government to provide for the military defence of the Dominion, thus relieving the Imperial Exchequer from financial liability in this respect to a greater extent than has as yet been accomplished, I can- not but think that when this Guarantee is called for by the Dominion, especially considering the existing friendly relations between ourselves and the Govern- ment and People of the United States, Her Majesty's Government ought to effect a larger reduction of the force than is contemplated in the Duke of Buckingham's letter.
In the year 1951, Earl Grey, then Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, addressing the Governor-General of the British North American Provinces, wrote as follows:-
"Canada (in common with the other British "Provinces in North America) now possesses in the "most ample and complete manner in which it is "possible that she should enjoy it, the advantage " of self-government in all that relates to her inter- "nal affairs. It appears to Her Majesty's Govern- "ment that this advantage ought to carry with it
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corresponding responsibilities; and that the time
is now come when the people of Canada must
be called upon to take upon themselves a larger
"share than they have hitherto done of expenses "which are incurred on this account, and for their
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advantage.
"Of these expenses by far the heaviest charge "which falls upon this country is that incurred for "the military protection of the Province.
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Regarding Canada as a most important and "valuable part of the empire, and believing the
"maintenance of the connection between the Mother
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Country and the Colony to be of the highest
advantage to both, it is far from being the view
"of Iler Majesty's Government that the general
military power of the empire is not to be used in the protection of this part of Her Majesty's "dominions. But looking to the rapid progress "which Canada is now making in wealth and popu- "lation, and to the prosperity which she at this "moment enjoys, it is the conviction
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of
Her Majesty's Government that it is only due to the people of this country that they should now be "relieved from a large proportion of the charge “which has hitherto been imposed upon them for "the protection of a Colony now well able to do "much towards protecting itself.
"In adopting this principle, I need hardly "observe to you that Her Majesty's Government "would merely be reverting to the former colonial
policy of this country."
Again, in 1853, the Duke of Newcastle, then Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, acquainted the Governor-General that Iler Majesty's Government thought it necessary to reduce the force then in Canada,-that is to say, in the present provinces of Ontario and Quebec, from 4,110 to 3,170 bayonets; and pointed out to him that
in doing so, they were only reducing the gar- risons of Canada to the establishments of 1792 and 1822. Very exceptional circumstances have, no doubt, prevented the application of these principles to the British North American Provinces during the last few years; but these circumstances have, in my opinion, ceased, and I am not aware of any sufficient reason which should prevent our returu- ing to the policy laid down in the despatches to which I have above referred. The Government of the new Dominion has displayed an anxiety to improve the organization of its own defences, which is deserving of encouragement on our part;