CANADA: About Time

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"It is about time for the Dominion of Canada to realize that this country is no longer going to be governed by the dictates and whims of the Province of Quebec." Almost before the speaker finished, the Canadian House of Commons blanketed his words with rolling shouts of "Shame! Shame!" and "Hear! Hear!"

Thus last week a man of no particular political importance voiced one of Canada's toughest problems. The man: Captain George S. White of the Canadian Army, a member of the usually dozing Conservative opposition. The problem: enlisting in Canada's war the fullhearted cooperation of the agricultural. Catholic, cautious, reactionary, French, Anglo-fearing, politically potent Quebec habitants.

Because in World War I a universal conscription law caused draft riots and talk of Quebec's seceding from the Dominion, Canada's Army for World War II has so far been recruited from volunteers. For all 21-year-olds there has been a compulsory "training period" of 30 days, which the Government last month upped to four months—still not enough to most military minds for adequate training.

In response to this increase in compulsory service and the recurrent agitation for a National Government, smart, aging Justice Minister Ernest Lapointe has been openly hinting at a revolt of Quebec M.P.s, active resistance from the French-Canadian third of the Dominion.

Captain White's remarks, directed to Lapointe, netted him a sound spanking from Minister of National Defense James Layton Ralston, plus whatever satisfaction there was in knowing that he was the first to debate openly a subject that sooner or later Canada must bring out into the open.