UNITED STATES AND CANADA 23 



** It depends on the course of discussion whether 

 the Commission will touch that matter or not." 



" But should commercial union be excluded from 

 the final settlement, do you think that a settlement 

 could be reached satisfactory to Canada ? " 



'' Well," said Mr. Chamberlain slowly, " the 

 Canadians have a responsible Commissioner in Sir 

 Charles Tupper. No one can be more competent 

 than he, and if he is satisfied the people of 

 Canada will be satisfied. Sir Charles Tupper is 

 specially competent to speak on behalf of the 

 Canadians." 



Mr. Chamberlain added that he regarded England 

 alone as his client. 



'' Is the Irish question likely to be settled very 

 soon ? " 



" I don't think it will be settled in our 



time." 



*' You are on record as to the House of Lords, 

 Mr. Chamberlain, are you not ? " 



'* No, I don't think I can point to any definite 

 expression of opinion on that subject." 



The reporter ventured again to bring up Home 

 Rule, and Mr. Chamberlain said : 



" I have always said I was prepared — ^to use Mr. 

 Gladstone's own words — ^to give the largest possible 

 extension of local government in Ireland consistent 

 with the integrity of the Empire, the supremacy of 

 the Imperial Parliament, protection of the minority, 

 and so on." 



