Reply from M. Bourassa to the letter of Captain Talbot Papineau

In my article of September 8, 1914, while refuting the principles and consequences of imperial solidarity and a continuance of the nationalist doctrine (…) I pronounced myself in favour of the intervention of Canada, as a nation, for the defense of the higher interests which unite our country with France and England….
I had agreed to, within a reasonable time and in keeping with the country’s conditions, Canada’s free and independent intervention – free for the nation and free for individuals; but the government, all of Parliament, the politicians and the press in both camps have applied themselves to the systematic destruction of this freedom. “Volunteer” recruiting is being done by blackmail, intimidation, threats of all kinds. And above all, we have taken advantage of the emotions caused by the war to affirm, in an even more intense and intolerant form, the doctrine of imperial solidarity, which is being victoriously fought and rejected by the statesmen and the Canadian people as a whole.

Le Devoir, August 5, 1916