“I have mentioned these difficulties in the inverse order of their importance,” said Sir Frederick. “Our loss of population is not only the most serious problem, but it grows out of the other two. Here we are, a nation of some eight million people. To the south of us is your country, with a population twelve times as great. You are the richest country in the world to-day. Canada occupies the north end of the continent, and while she is larger than the United States in area, and can match you in some of her natural resources, there are some things that we lack. For example, we cannot grow cotton. We have no hard coal. Most of our soft coal lies on our coasts, while a great part of our industry and population is located in the eastern and central sections of the country. This year, I believe, our bill for coal from the United States will be something like one hundred and twenty-five million dollars, or nearly thirteen dollars per capita of our total population. “We used to be a country of low costs and low taxes,” continued Sir Frederick. “Now we are nearly up to you with regard to both the cost of living and high taxes. On the other hand, you have created a partial vacuum in the United States by your restrictions on immigration. These do not, however, apply to Canadians. Just as great bodies exercise a certain power of attraction upon smaller ones, so your one hundred and ten millions draw upon our eight millions. You are admitting fewer immigrants than your country could easily absorb, with the result that you afford opportunities to our people to better their condition. Strange as it may seem to you, there are many of us who prefer, no matter what happens, to live our lives under the British flag, but there are also others to whom this does not seem so important. It is they who drift over to you.” While Sir Frederick thus outlined the problems confronting his country, his further remarks made it quite clear that he firmly believes in her future and is proud that he has a part in her development.