LOREBURN
��militarism, had each risen 15 per cent. I present that as an argument in the spirit of Dean Swift
There are hopeful signs for the future. In the first place, our brethren in the Colonies are undoubtedly relying more and more on their own resources. Canada had taken over the gar- rison. Natal is conducting at her own expense a war which I greatly deplore, and which I hope will soon be ended. I have no doubt that our colonial brethren are just and will act justly and fairly toward them.
In the last few years there have been increased proofs of international cooperation. We all rec- ollect the noble efforts of President Roosevelt to end the Russo-Japanese War and the signal success with which they were attended. We re- call the European Conference at Algeciras, where a difficult and perhaps dangerous question was solved by agreement in a spirit which could not have been looked for twenty years ago. We have established most friendly relations with the United States and also with France. I do not know why we should stop with France and the United States, and why we should not also go forward to Russia and to Germany. Lastly, we have The Hague Conference. There was one seven years ago, and there will soon be another held. I am sure you all hope that it may lead to an increased recourse to arbitration and a diminution in the armaments of nations.
The factor which should interest us most, and over which we have the best means of control,
253
�� �
