Robert Borden, May 19, 1917

Mr. Borden reminds us in a few words of the reasons that led him to accept the invitation of the British Prime Minister.

“The relations between the Dominions and the Motherland were abnormal, he said, thrown into war because the Motherland was at war, and yet we were not aware of the diplomatic relations that Great Britain entertained with other nations of Europe; there were treaties and agreements about which we were not informed. Because of our participation we have acquired the right to be better informed for the present and the future. It is to remedy this situation and for other very important reasons that the British Prime Minister conceived the idea of uniting the heads of government of each overseas Dominion.”….Mr Borden guarantees in advance the opinion of each colony as regards autonomy, Mr. Lloyd George declared, he said, that this would be respected to the letter. We are reassured.

Le Devoir, May19, 1917.