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IMPERIAL UNITY [PART VIII
(e) Naturalization
On June 13 there came before the Conference the important
question of naturalization, and the Conference were able to
arrive at a positive result of Imperial importance. Mr.
Batchelor * who moved the resolution of the Government of
Australia in favour of a system which, while recognizing the
right of each Dominion to provide for local naturalization,
should permit the issue to persons fulfilling prescribed con-
ditions of certificates of naturalization effective throughout
the Empire, urged that it was quite impossible to secure
aniformity in the conditions of naturalization throughout the
Empire, but that it would be well worth while to set up
a standard embodying the most drastic conditions, and to
give Imperial certificates of naturalization to persons who
would comply with such a standard.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier 2 also agreed that there was no possi-
bility of securing uniform conditions of naturalization, but
he laid down the principle that a man who was a British
subject anywhere should be a British subject throughout the
Empire. One hundred thousand Americans annually emi-
grated to Canada. They sought at the earliest possible
moment—that is, after three years’ residence—naturaliza-
tion, and they obtained it in Canada, but whenever they left
Canada they ceased to be British subjects. The principle
should be adopted that there should be uniformity in the
effect of naturalization wherever granted, and that a man
who was a British subject anywhere should be recognized as
a British subject everywhere, This was perfectly compatible
with diversity of methods as to the manner of granting
naturalization. Sir Joseph Ward? was prepared to accept
this principle on the understanding that each Dominion
would preserve its rights for the exclusion of aliens and
Asiatics. Mr. Malan 4 objected strongly to the proposal
that there should be two kinds of naturalization certificates—
t Parl. Pap., Cd. 5745, pp. 249-51. Cf. Cd. 5746-1, pp. 237 seq.; above.
pp. 1323, 1324.
* Ibid., pp. 251-3—an admirable and lucid presentment of an irresistible
28.80. ? Ibid., pp. 253-5. ¢ Ibid., pp. 255, 256.
