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jects of another part of the British Empire。 Further trouble followed when the Sikhs reached Calcutta in September； 1914； for riots took place involving serious loss of life and later an abortive attempt at rebellion。 Fortunately there were good prospects that the Indian Government would in future accept the proposal made by Canada in 1909。 At the Imperial Conference of 1917； where representatives of India were present for the first time； it was agreed to recommend the principle of reciprocity in the treatment of immigrants； India thus being free to save her pride by imposing on men from the Dominions the same restrictions the Dominions imposed on immigrants from India。
But all these dealings with lands across the sea paled into insignificance beside the task imposed on Canada by the Great War。 In the sudden crisis the Dominion attained a place among the nations which the slower changes of peace time could scarcely have made possible in decades。
When the war party in Germany and Austria…Hungary plunged Europe into the struggle the world had long been fearing； there was not a moment's hesitation on the part of the people of Canada。 It was not merely the circumstance that technically Canada was at war when Britain was at war that led Canadians to instant action。 The degree of participation； if not the fact of war； was wholly a matter for the separate Dominions。 It was the deep and abiding sympathy with the mother country whose very existence was to be at stake。 Later； with the unfolding of Germany's full designs of world dominance and the repeated display of her callous and ruthless policies； Canada comprehended the magnitude of the danger threatening all the world and grimly set herself to help end the menace of militarism once for all。
On August 1； 1914； two days before Belgium was invaded； and three days before war between Britain and Germany had been declared； the Dominion Government cabled to London their firm assurance that the people of Canada would make every sacrifice necessary to secure the integrity and honor of the Empire and asked for suggestions as to the form aid should take。 The financial and administrative measures the emergency demanded were carried out by Orders…in…Council in accordance with the scheme of defense which only a few months before had been drawn up in a 〃War Book〃。 Two weeks later； Parliament met in a special four day session and without a dissenting voice voted the war credits the Government asked and conferred upon it special war powers of the widest scope。 The country then set about providing men； money； and munitions of war。
The day after war was declared； recruiting was begun for an expeditionary force of 21；000 men。 Half as many more poured into the camp at Valcartier near Quebec； and by the middle of October this first Canadian contingent； over 30；000 strong； the largest body of troops which had ever crossed the Atlantic； was already in England； where its training was to be completed。 As the war went on and all previous forecasts of its duration and its scale were far outrun； these numbers were multiplied many times。 By the summer of 1917 over 400；000 men had been enrolled for service； and over 340；000 had already gone overseas； aside from over 25；000 Allied reservists。
Naturally enough it was the young men of British birth who first responded in large numbers to the recruiting officer's appeal。 A military background； vivid home memories； the enlistment of kinsmen or friends overseas； the frequent slightness of local ties； sent them forth in splendid and steady array。 Then the call came home to the native…born； and particularly to Canadians of English speech。 Few of them had dreamed of war； few had been trained even in militia musters； but in tens of thousands they volunteered。 From French…speaking Canada the response was slower； in spite of the endeavors of the leaders of the Opposition as well as of the Government to encourage enlistment。 In some measure this was only to be expected。 Quebec was dominantly rural； its men married young； and the country parishes had little touch with the outside world。 Its people had no racial sympathy with Britain and their connection with France had long been cut by the cessation of immigration from that country。 Yet this is not the complete explanation of that aloofness which marked a great part of Quebec。 Account must be taken also of the resentment caused by exaggerated versions of the treatment accorded the French…Canadian minority in the schools of Ontario and the West； and especially of the teaching of the Nationalists； led by Henri Bourassa； who opposed active Canadian participation in the war。 Lack of tact on the part of the Government and reckless taunts from extremists in Ontario made the breach steadily wider。 Yet there were many encouraging considerations。 Another grandson of the leader of '37； Talbot Papineau； fell fighting bravely； and it was a French…Canadian battalion； Les Vingt Deuxiemes； which won the honors at Courcelette。
When the war first broke out； no one thought of any but voluntary methods of enlistment。 As the magnitude of the task came home to men and the example of Great Britain had its influence； voices began to be raised in favor of compulsion。 Sir Robert Borden； the Premier； and Sir Wilfrid Laurier alike opposed the suggestion。 Early in 1917 the adoption of conscription in the United States； and the need of reenforcements for the Canadian forces at the front led the Prime Minister； immediately after his return from the Imperial Conference in London； to bring down a measure for compulsory service。 He urged in behalf of this course that the need for men was urgent beyond all question； that the voluntary system； wasteful and unfair at best； had ceased to bring more than six or seven thousand men a month； chiefly for other than infantry ranks； and that only by compulsion could Quebec be brought to shoulder her fair share and the slackers in all the provinces be made to rise to the need。 It was contended； on the other hand； that great as was the need for men； the need for food； which Canada could best of all countries supply； was greater still； that voluntary recruiting had yielded over four hundred thousand men； proportionately equivalent to six million from the United States； and was slackening only because the reservoir was nearly drained dry； and that Quebec could be brought into line more effectively by conciliation than by compulsion。
The issue of conscription brought to an end the political truce which had been declared in August； 1914。 The keener partisans on both sides had not long been able to abide on the heights of non…political patriotism which they had occupied in the first generous weeks of the war。 But the public was weary of party cries and called for unity。 Suggestions of a coalition were made at different times； but the party in power； new to the sweets of office； confident of its capacity； and backed by a strong majority； gave little heed to the demand。 Now； however； the strong popular opposition offered to the announcement of conscription led the Prime Minister to propose to Sir Wilfrid Laurier a coalition Government on a conscription basis。 Sir Wilfrid； while continuing to express his desire to cooperate in any way that would advance the common cause； declined to enter a coalition to carry out a programme decided upon without consultation and likely； in his view； to wreck national unity without securing any compensating increase in numbers beyond what a vigorous and sympathetic voluntary campaign could yet obtain。
For months negotiations continued within Parliament and without。 The Military Service Act was passed in August； 1917； with the support of the majority of the English…speaking members of the Opposition。 Then the Government； which had already secured the passage of an Act providing for taking the votes of the soldiers overseas； forced through under closure a measure depriving of the franchise all aliens of enemy birth or speech who had been admitted to citizenship since 1902； and giving a vote to every adult woman relative of a soldier on active service。 Victory for the Government now appeared certain。 Leading English…peaking Liberals； particularly from the West； convinced that conscription was necessary to keep Canada's forces up to the need； or that the War Times Election Act made opposition hopeless； decided to accept Sir Robert Borden's offer of seats in a coalition Cabinet。
In the election of December； 1917； in which passion and prejudice were stirred as never before in the history of Canada； the Unionist forces won by a sweeping majority。 Ontario and the West were almost solidly behind the Government in the number of members elected； Quebec as solidly against it； and the Maritime Provinces nearly evenly divided。 The soldiers' vote； contrary to Australian experience； was overwhelmingly for conscription。 The Laurier Liberals polled more civilian votes in Ontario； Quebec； Alberta； and British Columbia； and in the Dominion as a whole； than the united Liberal party had received in the Reciprocity election of 1911。 The increase in the Unionist popular vote was still greater； however； and gave the Government fifty…eight per cent of the popular vote and sixty…five per cent of the seats