THE WEST INDIAN PREFERENCE
In the autumn of 1897 the report of a Royal Commission on the condition
of affairs in the West Indian Islands was published. Field-Marshal Sir
Henry Norman disagreed with the other two members of the Commission,
and put in a minority report, showing in effect that the real way to
relieve the distress in the sugar industry of the West Indies, was
for Great Britain to put countervailing duties on bounty favoured
sugar coming into her markets. I was much impressed with Sir Henry
Norman's report as to the condition of the West Indies, and came to
the conclusion that we in Canada might do something to aid on Imperial
grounds.
I wrote, therefore, to Principal George M. Grant, one of our most
energetic and brilliant colleagues, asking him to let me know when he
would be in Toronto, as I wished to have a long conference with him.
On the 29th December, 1897, we met, and I discussed the whole question
with him and asked him to go to Ottawa, and urge Sir Wilfrid Laurier
and Mr. Fielding to increase the sugar duty in order that Canada might
be able to give a preference to West Indian Sugar. I pointed out that
such action would be popular, and that I was satisfied both parties
would support it. I had been pressing Sir Wilfrid and the Government
on many points, and thought that in this matter they had better be
approached from a different angle. Grant took up the idea eagerly, and
promised to go to Ottawa and do his best. On the 3rd January, 1898, he
wrote me "(Private and confidential)":
A Happy New Year to you! I have just returned from Ottawa. Had an
hour with Fielding discussing the West Indian question, which he
understands thoroughly. I think that something will be done, though
perhaps not all that we might wish at first.
Had an hour also with Laurier. First, the preference hereafter is
to be confined to Britain. That is settled, but this is of course
strictly confidential.
Secondly, he seemed at first to think that we had gone far enough with
our twenty-five per cent. reduction, till we could see its workings,
but when I argued for going steadily along that line he said, "I do
not say yea, but I do not say nay." I intend to push the matter.
He is in favour of the cable, but thinks that we cannot take it up
this session.
He impresses me favourably the more I study him. He has a truer
understanding of the forces in Britain than Tupper in my opinion.
Of course I told Fielding that the West Indian suggestion was yours,
and that I cordially endorsed it. He is anxious to do something, but
thinks that we must ask in dealing with them a _quid pro quo_.
Shortly before it was announced Sir Wilfrid Laurier told me the
Government were likely to give West Indian sugar a preference. And on
the 5th April, 1898, Mr. Fielding introduced his Budget, and in a most
eloquent and statesmanlike speech declared that Canada had her Imperial
responsibilities, and that she would lend "a helping hand to our
sister colonies in the south." This was received with great applause
from both sides of the House, and Grant and I were not only much
pleased at the success of our efforts, but still more gratified to find
the universal feeling in Canada in favour of Mr. Fielding's action. A
few days after, on the 9th April, Grant wrote to me:
I am sure that my thorough discussion on the West India matter with
Mr. Fielding did good, but the suggestion came from you. We may be
well satisfied with the action of the Government, but it will be bad
if the public gets the idea that the British Empire League is pressing
them. It is our task rather to educate public opinion. Things are
moving steadily in the right direction.
P.S.--Mulock is evidently aiming at Imperial penny postage. Good!
Some time after this the German Government put the maximum tariff
against all Canadian goods, and Mr. Fielding met this by a surtax of
ten per cent. on all German goods entering Canada. This changed the
whole supply of sugar for Canada from Germany to the West Indies to
their great advantage.
On the 10th March, 1898, the Annual Meeting of the British Empire
League was held in the Private Bills Committee Room in the House of
Commons. It was a most successful meeting. Four Cabinet Ministers were
present, Sir Louis Davies, Sir Wm. Mulock, Hon. J. Israel Tarte, and
Hon. Charles Fitzpatrick. Sir Charles Tupper and Sir Mackenzie Bowell
ex Prime Ministers, and many members of the Senate and the House.
Those named above addressed the meeting as well as Principal Grant and
Colonel Sam Hughes.
Sir Wm. Mulock succeeded this year in securing Imperial Penny Postage,
which was one of the objects for which the British Empire League had
been working. It was managed with great boldness and skill by Mr.
Mulock. His first step was to announce that on and after a certain date
some three or four months in advance, all letters stamped with the
ordinary three cent domestic rate would be carried to Great Britain
without further charge. He knew that objection would be raised to his
action, but that it would bring the question to the forefront. The
Imperial Government objected to deliver the letters, and said the
matter would have to be considered at a conference. Mr. Mulock then
answered that a conference should be held, which was agreed to, but
he insisted it should not be a departmental affair, that he should
only be asked to discuss it with men of his own rank, that is with
Cabinet Ministers. This also was agreed to, and it was not long before
the matter was settled. Mr. Mulock sent me a cable telling me of his
success as soon as he came out of the meeting where the resolution was
passed.
On the 28th August, 1898, a large deputation of the Executive
Committee of the British Empire League met Mr. Mulock at the Toronto
railway station on his arrival from England, to welcome him home, to
congratulate him upon his success, and to invite him to a complimentary
banquet to be given in his honour.
The banquet took place on the 15th September, at the National Club.
Principal Grant, Alexander McNeill, and Sir Sandford Fleming all came
to Toronto to attend it. It was a most successful affair.
The Lieut.-Governor Sir Oliver Mowat, who was one of our
vice-presidents, attended, also Lord Herschel, Hon. Richard Herschel,
Hon. Charles Russell, Sir Frank Smith, Mayor Shaw, and a large and
distinguished company.
I was in the chair and proposed the health of Mr. Mulock. The _World_
of the following day, the 16th September, 1898, reported me as follows:
Colonel Denison, inspired by the nobility of the dominant idea of
the evening, looked like a general standing on the ramparts just won
by his troops. He spoke of the double aim of the League, to preserve
the permanency of the British Empire, and secondly to procure closer
intercourse between the parts. He dwelt on the wonderful advance
made by the idea of federation and the disappearance of the "Little
Englander." It was not enough to denounce the German and Belgian
treaties, or to have a preferential tariff. There should be no rest
until a mutual preferential tariff had been secured.
Lord Herschel, Sir Oliver Mowat, Mr. Mulock, Principal Grant, Alexander
McNeill, Sir Sandford Fleming, Mr. George Hague of Montreal, Geo.
E. Casey, and W. F. Maclean all made loyal and patriotic speeches,
Alexander McNeill's being especially eloquent and powerful.
Our League was much gratified not long afterwards at an article which
appeared in the London _Daily Mail_ of the 21st November, 1898, under
the heading "Where Imperialism comes from." After referring to many
things Canada had done, preferential tariffs and preferences to the
West Indies, penny postage, &c., it concluded as follows:
By their works ye shall know them, and by the record of Canada's works
is her magnificent, constructive, peaceful Imperialism made known to
the world. Yet its full strength can only be measured by going among
Canadians in their homes and noting--and becoming affected by--the
palpitating Imperialist life of the people, which even the coldness of
the mother country cannot damp. When future historians come to write
the history of the Empire's later development they will have much to
say of Canada's Imperialist lead. At present we don't make half enough
of this rich and beautiful Dominion--an Empire in itself--and its
enthusiastically loyal sons.