It will be remembered that the deputation of our British Empire League to England, in 1897, was instructed to express the great desire of the Canadian Branch that, as a guarantee of the general safety of the Empire, vigorous steps should at once be taken to provide that the British Food supply should be grown within the Empire. As chairman of the deputation I did all in my power to stir up inquiry on the subject. Being introduced to Principal Ward of Owens College, Manchester, when at that city, I talked freely with him on the point, and he suggested I should discuss it with Mr. Spencer Wilkinson, the well-known author and journalist. He gave me a letter introducing me to Mr. Wilkinson, and we had several interviews. Shortly after reaching London I called to see my friend Lord Wolseley, then Commander-in-Chief. He took me with him to his house to lunch, and as we walked over, I at once broached the subject of the food supply, principally wheat and flour, and he told me that the Government had been urged to look into the matter some two or three years before, and that there had been a careful inquiry by the best experts, and the report was that the command of the sea was a _sine quâ non_, but if we maintained that, and paid the cost which would be much increased by war prices, the country could get all the grain they would want. I said suppose a war with Russia and the United States, what would be done if they combined and put an embargo on bread-stuffs? How would it be got then even with full command of the sea? He did not seem himself to have understood the difficulty, or studied the figures, and said, "I cannot explain the matter. All I can say is that the Government obtained the advice of the best men in England on the subject, and that is their report." My reply was, "I wish you would look into it yourself," and I dropped the subject. I met Lord Roberts shortly after and I pressed the matter upon him. He had not known of the Government report, and consequently listened to my arguments attentively and seemed impressed, for I may say that 1897 was the worst year in all our history as to the manner in which the supply of food was distributed among the nations. Mr. Spencer Wilkinson seemed to be much interested in my talks with him, and one day he said, "I wish you could have a conversation with some great authority on the other side of the question, who would understand the matter and be able to answer you." I replied, "That is what I should like very much. Tell me the best man you have and I will tackle him. If he throws me over in the gutter in our discussion it will be a good thing, for then I shall learn something." Mr. Wilkinson laughed at my way of putting it, and said, "If that is what you want, Sir Robert Giffen is the man for you to see." I said I would try and get a letter of introduction to him. Mr. Wilkinson said he would give me one, and did so.