WHY CANADA ENTERED THE WAR

In July, 1914, the people of Canada were absorbed in their peaceful occupations and thought little of the possibility of war. For a hundred years peace had reigned between Canada and her great neighbour to the south, and preparations were being made to celebrate worthily the century of peace. Many people even hoped that war would never come to Canada: But suddenly a quarrel between Austria and Serbia developed into a great European War.

On August 1st, three days before Great Britain entered the war, the Canadian Government became so concerned over the danger threatening the Mother Country that this message was sent to the British Government through the acting Governor- General. " My advisers. . . . . . . . . . wish to convey to His Majesty's Government the firm assurance that, if unhappily war should ensue, the Canadian people will be united in a common resolve to put forth every effort, and to make every sacrifice necessary to insure the integrity and maintenance of the honour of our Empire." In reply, the British Government sent the following message: "With reference to your telegram. . . His Majesty's Government gratefully welcome the assurance that in the present crisis they may rely on the whole-hearted co-operation of the people of Canada."

Preparations were at once made by the Canadian Government to support the Mother Country and, within six weeks of the outbreak of war, an army of 33,000 men was enrolled, trained, and embarked-the largest single force that had ever crossed the Atlantic. Since then Canada has continued to give her men, her women, and her treasure, and on the bloody fields of France and Flanders Canadians have won undying fame in the greatest struggle of the ages.

One may well ask why this young western nation forsook, its peaceful ways and rushed so promptly to the assistance of Great Britain. She did so, in the first place, because Great Britain is her MOTHER COUNTRY, because the Canadian people are British. It is true that most of the people of Quebec are of French descent, and that we have welcomed to our shores hundreds of thousands of people of other races; but, in race, in customs, in ideas, and in ideals, Canadians are, as a whole, strongly British, and to them Great Britain is still the Mother Country.

There is another reason why we love Great Britain. She is the mother of parliaments, the mother of modern democratic government. We are proud of the way the British people won their own political rights; we are equally proud of the way they have to their children beyond the seas the privilege of governing themselves. By her enlightened treatment of her colonies Great Britain has bound them to herself with the strongest bonds of gratitude.

Our desire to help Great Britain in 1914 was increased by the conviction that she had done all she honourably could to prevent war. In 1912 and 1913, at the time of the Balkan Wars, the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Sir Edward Grey, had succeeded in keeping the Great Powers out of the struggle; and, in July, 1914, when Austria made her unjust demands on Serbia, he strove once more to prevent a general European war. Canadians could not then understand the situation thoroughly, but enough information was given by the cables to convince them that Britain was again working sincerely for peace, and that, if she went to war, it would be because Belgium was being overrun and France wantonly attacked. Since ; then, abundant evidence has accumulated to convince the world that Germany and Austria were unprovoked aggressors. Not the least interesting evidence is that furnished by Prince Lichnowsky,
the German ambassador to Great Britain in that fateful year; he has stated that the British Government earnestly desired to maintain peaceful relations with Germany.

Soon after hostilities began, the Canadian Parliament met to take all necessary measures for the active participation of Canada in the war. It was then that our political leaders had an excellent opportunity to explain the position of Canada. Speaking first, Sir Wilfrid Laurier expressed eloquently the feelings and convictions of his fellow-countrymen, when he exclaimed: "We are British subjects, and to-day we are face to face with the consequences which are involved in that proud fact. Long we have enjoyed the benefits of our British citizenship; to-day it is our duty and our privilege to accept its responsibilities; yes, and its sacrifices. It is our duty. ... to let Great Britain know, to let the friends and foes of Great Britain know, that there is in Canada but one mind and one heart, and that all Canadians stand behind the Mother Country, conscious and proud that she did not engage in war from any selfish motive, for any purpose of aggrandisement, but that she engaged in war to maintain untarnished the honour of her name, to fulfil her obligations, and to save civilization from the un-bridled lust of conquest and power."

In bringing his address to a close, Sir Robert Borden, Premier of Canada, gave noble expression to the convictions of us all. "As to our duty all are agreed, east and west, and we .stand shoulder to shoulder with Britain and the other British possessions in this quarrel. And that duty we shall not fail to fulfil as the honour of Canada demands. Not for love of battle, not for lust of conquest, not for greed of possessions; but for the, cause of honour, to maintain solemn pledges, to uphold the principle of liberty, to withstand forces that would convert the world into an armed camp; yes, in the very name of the peace we sought at any cost save that of dishonour, we have entered into this war; and while gravely conscious of the tremendous issues involved, and of all the sacrifices that they may entail, we do not shrink from them, but with firm hearts we abide the event."

Source:  The Canada War Book (1918)