The proceedings at the Imperial Conference going on now in London are of particular interest to Canada. The Anglo - Japanese Treaty renewal is a subject which is much discussed, and there is no doubt that Canadian opinion speaking generally, will support Premier Meighen in opposing this. He bases his opposition on the cause of the Treaty having disappeared, that a renewal of it might be taken as a challenge to the United States, and that such a renewal is against the present feeling of hostility to special alliances and the agitation in favour of disarmament. It must also be remembered that the Province of Columbia is strongly against the renewal as it is the province which suffers most, from its position, from Asiatic immigration, and the Treaty does not give Canada the right to bar Japanese emigrants.
As a -consequence, the great salmon fishery industry of the pro-ince has passed almost entirely into the hands' of the Japanese, while there are over 500 Japanese owners of farms and a large number holding farming leases. Their activities are by no means confined to these. It can be said that the Chinese are also very numerous in the province. There is an agreement between Canada and Japan limiting Japanese immigration which is being loyally lived-up to by Japan: but it is far different to Canada being mistress in her own house, and that can be taken as the aim and intention of the whole country. Tt can be taken for granted that should the Treaty be renewed Canada will not be a party to it.
The question of naval defence is {another ghorny subject, but so far as Canada is concerned it is certain that she will not undertake any large expenditure in connexion with it, unless grave reasons arise to compel her to do so. Canada in the first place is strongly in favour of disarmament, and prefers to wait and see if this cannot be brought about before spending money on ships. Then although the British Admiralty strongly advised a single navy for the whole British Empire under centralized control, the Overseas Dominions objected, and laid it down as an essential basis of any scheme that there should be complete control of local fleets by local parliaments during peace times, although centralization would be necessary in war times.
Admiral Jellicoe has visited the various Dominions and prepared plans best suited to their demand and needs, but' nothing has been done, at least so far as Canada is concerned, in the matter because Parliament decided that no action should be taken until the precise method by which the Overseas Dominions could express their voice in the foreign affairs of the Empire was settled. This settlement is to be arrived at a constitutional conference, which the one being held at present is not considered to be, and which may take place in 1923, and not unlike-ay, from reports, in Ottawa. In addition to all this there is the fact that in view of Canada having to find the largest revenue which she has ever had to provide, it is no time for any Government to propose a large naval outlay.
Demann ror Pveuicity.
Premier Meighen has earned some praise, at least in Canada, for making the demand that the proceedings at the Imperial Conference should be made public. He urged that if the conclusions ed at be sound and are to be upon, they must be accorded not only general but intelligent support by the peoples of the countries concerned and that it was better to err upon the side of pubplicity than on that of secrecy. One paper here commenting upon this says that 'It is plain, logical common sense. The world has suffered too much from secret diplomacy and secret methods. Secret diplomacy has often been nothing less than vile treachery and abominable falsehoods. The secret' history of the origin of the Franco-German war, and of the Great War, has proved this beyond doubt. It has been said that there is generally something disgraceful about most secrets and a little consideration shows that there is much truth in the saying"
Ontario Boxe Dry."
Prohibition must, of course, be mentioned. The latest news is that the leading province of Ontario vill become "bone dry'? ea une July 19. That means that after that date no importation of liquor will be allowed into the province, that only a miserable small beer "9 per cent." and native wines will be allowed! on sale, and that the only way to obtain avy other liquor will be by means of a doctor's prescription ordering it. The Act, however, concerning im-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.