The Conscription Crisis, 1917

The losses during Battle of Vimy triggered in Canada a demand for conscription that ultimately tore the country apart. Patrice Dutil discusses the reaction against conscription with Pierre Anctil, Professor of History at the University of Ottawa, focusing in particular on an editorial in Le Devoir by Henri Bourassa. It is drawn from the 2017 Champlain Society volume “Do what you Must”: Selected Editorials from Le Devoir under Henri Bourassa, 1910-1932. Le Devoir, June 6th, 1917. The Prime Minister obviously intents to impose conscription by a collation cabinet and by prolonging parliament once again. This plan reveals an incredible thoughtlessness in the circumstances. The government, the opposition and the entire Parliament have plunged the country into the European tempest, whereas no international commitment and no constitutional or moral obligation impose any other duty on Canada than to look after the defence of its own territory. The government decreed this participation in the European war in order to help England and its allies “destroy militarism” and “save democracy.” The entire Parliament ratified and acclaimed this “noble” project, Sir Robert Borden and his colleagues and Sir Wilfrid Laurier and his supporters outdid each other in repeating that just as participation was free and voluntary for the nation, it would remain free and voluntary for individuals. It was by promising verbally and in writing not to deviate from the principle of voluntary service that the Prime Minster obtained invaluable support from all sectors of society. By proposing conscription now, Sir Robert Borden is violating his most solemn promises; in the same manner as Bethmann-Hollweg, he is ripping up the “scraps of paper” that bear his stamp of approval and of entire parliament. With compulsory overseas service, Canada is being subject to a regime of “Prussian militarism.” If the Prime Minster persists in refusing to give the people the right to decide the question, he will be violating the fundamental principles of this “democracy” he want to “save”…I Europe with the blood of five hundred thousand Canadians! … It was never clear to me why Canada had a duty to bleed dry to “save democracy” in Europe, and even less so to impose democracy on the Germans, the Austrians or the Bulgarians. Nevertheless, the democratic regime is the system that has been established in Canada by law, the Constitution and in existence for a century already. If it were clearly demonstrated that “Wilhelm Hohenzollern” wants to overthrow this order of things and that he had any solid chance of implanting “Prussian militarism” in Canada, I would be the first to call to arms…and respond before forcing others to put their neck on the line. Producers/directors : Sabrina Bertsch, Cindy Long, Vincent Piette If you like our work, please consider supporting it: https://bit.ly/support_WTY. Your support contributes to the Champlain Society’s mission of opening new windows to directly explore and experience Canada’s past.