Hon. C. D. HOWE (Minister of Transport) moved:

That the name of Mr. Emmerson be substituted for that of Mr. Hill on the standing committee on railways and shipping, owned, operated and controlled by the government.

That the name of Mr. Jackman be substituted for that of Mr. Diefenbaker on the standing committee on railways and shipping, owned, operated and controlled by the government.

Right Hon. W. L. MACKENZIE KING (Prime Minister):

Mr. Speaker, although the ultimate situation remains obscure, and the present relations between the government of the United Kingdom and the French government at Bordeaux have not yet been clarified, I feel that I should say a few words at this time. Members of the house will have appreciated the feelings of Mr. Churchill when they read his speech delivered in the British house yesterday. Nothing could have brought home more clearly the tragic irony and agony of war, than the grim obligation placed upon the British navy to prevent the French fleet from falling into the hands of Germany and Italy.

Nothing can be gained by a recital of the events which led up to the seizures, the sinkings, and the conflict between ancient allies and friends. The proposals made by the British emissary to the French admiral at Oran would seem at this time and distance to have contained within them an honourable and bloodless solution. Fate decreed otherwise. No one can blame the French admiral and his gallant sailors for loyal obedience to their government, however precarious its powers, however shackled its decisions. Equally, no fair-minded men knowing the attitudes and minds of the German and Italian dictators and their record of promises made, and promises broken, could expect the government of the United Kingdom to imperil the security of the British isles and the dominions by allowing the French fleet to pass into the control of the enemy. Wednesday's action cannot be regarded as directed against France. Rather was it action against ships that already, for all practical purposes, were German and Italian instruments of war.

I am sure that it is the prayer of the people of Canada who owe so much to the memory of France, that the French people will recognize that if the Bordeaux government acted under the compulsion of the conqueror, the British navy acted equally under the compulsion of its great responsibility for the preservation of the liberties of the world. In no country has the calamity of France received more understanding sympathy than in Canada. The plight of the French people and the destitution that has overtaken its millions of refugees have filled us with profound sorrow. It is our faith that although the might of a ruthless machine has for a time, but we believe for a time only, overwhelmed the power of France, nothing can vanquish the soul of that great nation.

Whatever may have happened, or whatever may come to pass, Canadians of all races and classes know in their hearts that there is only one thing that matters to-day in the world of free men; that is the ultimate triumph of the cause of freedom for which Britain and France alike took up arms, and the certain defeat of the evil powers that threaten to enslave the world.

Mr. G. K. FRASER (Peterborough West):

I should like to ask the Minister of Mines and Resources (Mr. Crerar) whether his department has set up the necessary machinery and staff to fingerprint all refugee children for

National Registration

identification purposes so that a record may be kept at all times of these children, and also to avoid any chance of the parents getting the wrong children back after the war is won by the British empire.

Hon. T. A. CRERAR (Minister of Mines and Resources):

The necessary steps are being taken to handle this rather difficult matter in as satisfactory a way as possible.

Hon. R. B. HANSON (Leader of the Opposition):

Mr. Speaker, I desire to ask the Prime Minister (Mr. Mackenzie King) some questions which are based upon a report which appeared yesterday in the French language newspaper Le Droit with reference to the mobilization of man-power under the National Resources Mobilization Act. I shall read just one paragraph of the translation:

The following classes of the Canadian army may be mobilized next Monday:

(a) Young men from twenty to twenty-seven years of age.

(b) Married men between the same ages.

That is what the Prime Minister may have

said yesterday-and we learned it from a reliable source-at a Liberal caucus, after Mr. Arthur Slaght, Liberal member for Parry Sound, had made a virulent speech in favour of total conscription to enable Canada to do her full part for the defence of England against German invasion. The leader of the government is said to have reassured the members against the likelihood of a nazi attack against Canada in saying that the United States would never tolerate the invasion by a foreign power of any foot of territory of the two Americas.

I do not quite understand the reason for all the laughter, Mr. Speaker.

These are my questions: (1) Has the government determined to call up the two classes mentioned? (2) If so, has the order in council been passed? (3) If so, when will it be laid on the table? (4) Is the Liberal caucus the appropriate place to make such an announcement? (5) If the report is untrue, when will the first steps of mobilization be taken?

Right Hon. W. L. MACKENZIE KING (Prime Minister):

May I see the questions? If I had them before me I could answer them one by one.

Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):

I shall hand them to the Prime Minister.

Mr. MACKENZIE KING:

Question 1: Has the government determined to call up the two classes mentioned? The answer is no. Question 2: If so, has the order in

council been passed? The answer is no. Question 3: If so, when will it be laid on the table? I suppose the answer is, God only knows.

Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):

That is probably true from what I hear. God only knows when you will take action.

Mr. MACKENZIE KING:

Does my hon. friend wish to ask some other questions?