NAVIES 185 



characteristics by joining the United States; 

 though in this case she would have been obliged 

 to pay her share towards keeping up a navy 

 which was far smaller than the British and much 

 more costly in proportion. As another alter- 

 native she could have said that her postal and 

 customs preferences in favour of the mother 

 country, taken in conjunction with what she 

 paid for her militia, were enough. This would 

 have put her far behind New Zealand and 

 Australia, both of whom were doing much more, 

 in proportion to their wealth and population. 



There was a very natural curiosity to see 

 what Canada would do, because she was much 

 the senior of the other dominions, while in 

 size, wealth, and population she practically 

 equalled all three of them together. But what- 

 ever the expectations were, they were doomed 

 to disappointment, for, while she was last in 

 starting, she did not reach any decisive result 

 at all. Australia, New Zealand — and even 

 South Africa, so lately the scene of a devastat- 

 ing war — each gave money, while Canada gave 

 none. New Zealand, with only one-seventh 

 of Canada's population, gave a Dreadnought, 

 while Canada gave none. Australia had a 

 battle - worthy squadron of her own — but 

 Canada had nothing but a mere flotilla. 



