In the course of his participation in the Imperial Conference,
Campbell-Bannerman was brought much into contact with Sir Wilfrid, and,
being impressed with his wonderful comprehension and appreciation of the
British Constitution, saw in him the fulfilment in Canada of what he
hoped to do for South Africa, and invited him to a small gathering of
Liberals to give his opinion upon the wisdom of self-government for the
Boers.
Sir Wilfrid, as those who knew his ardent sympathy with small
nationalities everywhere, can well understand, readily accepted the
invitation. For nearly an hour he spoke with all his intense eloquence
upon what trust and self-government had done to build up an united and
prosperous Canada, to win the loyalty and devotion of French-Canadians,
and toward the close, in a peroration of moving eloquence, asked why
trust in the Boers would not achieve in South Africa what it had
achieved in Quebec.
That speech is said to have been the decisive factor in influencing
Campbell-Bannerman. Mr. Asquith in the great tribute which he once paid
to his departed chief, significantly told how, after a certain event,
Sir Henry said that in regard to his South African policy there would be
“no surrender”; and there is little doubt as to the event he had in
mind. Not long ago, a writer in the “Manchester Guardian,” in paying a
tribute to Campbell-Bannerman, referred to the support given him in
regard to the Boers by an “overseas statesman,” but apart from such
meagre notice, Sir Wilfrid’s noble part in this momentous drama is
unknown to the world.
It is also known that in the possession of Sir Wilfrid there were a
number of letters and documents dealing with this matter—letters from
General Botha, and Campbell-Bannerman, and others—testifying to the
great influence he exerted in such a far-reaching stroke of
statesmanship.
It is to be hoped that they will soon be given to the world, if for no
other reason than in justice to one who, was at all times, a noble
interpreter and potent advocate of the blessings of human freedom.
* * * * *
Every once in a while during the past fifty years or more some one comes
along with a new scheme to reconstruct the British Empire and when each
architect finds his plan not workable he charges those who do not
support it with disloyalty.
A charge made against Sir Wilfrid Laurier is that in the Imperial
Conference of 1911 he opposed a scheme of Imperial reorganization
proposed by Sir Joseph Ward, of New Zealand. The truth that is
suppressed is that the proposal was rejected by the unanimous voice of
the conference, the only exception being Sir Joseph Ward himself. We
quote Mr. Asquith, Prime Minister, and President of the Conference:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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