1296 ADMINISTRATION AND LEGISLATION [PART V 
amending Imperial Acts in the King’s Regulations and 
Admiralty Instructions in so far as such Acts, regulations, and 
instructions are applicable, and except in so far as they may 
be inconsistent with the Canadian Act or regulations made 
ander the Act. The Governor in Council is empowered to 
direct who shall perform in Canada the duties vested by the 
Imperial Acts or regulations or instructions in the Admiralty 
or in any other body or officer in the United Kingdom. 
During the course of the passing of the Act there was 
much discussion in the Canadian Parliament as to whether 
sufficient was being done by the Dominion Government, and 
as to whether they were not taking steps which would lead 
directly to involving the Dominion in foreign wars in which 
they had no interest, and out of which it was desirable that 
they should remain! On the one side it was contended that, 
in effect, Canada was attempting to claim for itself a position 
of neutrality when Great Britain was at war. On the other 
hand it was argued that under the proposal of the Govern- 
ment Canada would be, against its will and against the 
wishes of the people, compelled to share in all the conflicts in 
which the Imperial Government might be engaged. The 
position adopted by the Prime Minister was clear and simple. 
He held that it was impossible for the Dominion Government 
to be indifferent to the wars in which Great Britain might 
from time to time be engaged. If Great Britain were at 
war every power would be at liberty to attack Canada, and 
Canada must be prepared to do its share in defending itself. 
On the other hand, the Prime Minister insisted that it was 
not intended in any way to leave the disposal of the forces of 
“anada automatically to the Imperial Government. 
In any case it would be open to Canada to decide, as far 
as aggressive action was concerned, what degree of co- 
operation it would afford against a foreign attack. It can 
See House of Commons Debates, 1909-10, pp. 1732 seq., 2952 seq, 
3210 seq., 3575 seq., 3987 seq., 4316 seq., 4535 seq., 4848 seq., 5107 seq., 
7393 seq., 7590 seq. 
* See also his speeches at Montreal on October 10, 1910 (Montreal Herald, 
October 11, 1910), and on the reassembling of Parliament on November 21, 
1910 : House of Commons Debates, pp. 57 sed.