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

Mr. Speaker, on March 5 I made a brief statement on the situation in the Balkans as it affected citizens of certain of the Balkan countries. Upon instructions

The Late Loring Christie

from the government of the United Kingdom, his majesty's minister at Budapest has broken off diplomatic relations with Hungary. By reason of this action it is necessary for me to make a further statement.

There is no Canadian diplomatic mission in Hungary, and there are no Canadian government offices of any sort within that country. There has therefore been no occasion for any action by the Canadian government with a view to recalling Canadian government officials from Hungary. There are, however, two Hungarian consulates in Canada, and action is being taken with regard to them.

The breaking off of diplomatic relations does not necessarily bring about a state of war. On the other hand, it was not possible, even at an earlier stage, to overlook the fact that Hungary was contiguous to territory under German domination, and that Hungary's alignment with the axis, and the according to the enemy of privileges with regard to troop movements and like matters, was not consistent with neutrality. Hungary accordingly was made proscribed territory, and transactions with that country were subjected to the regime of the trading with the enemy regulations. These measures were precautionary, and consistent with the continuation of diplomatic relations. No steps were taken, however, to interfere in any way with the maintenance by the Hungarian government of its consulates within this country.

The action of the Hungarian government in enabling the enemy to use Hungarian territory as a basis for unprovoked and unwarranted aggression against Yugoslavia, as well as the action of the government of the United Kingdom in breaking off diplomatic relations, make it necessary to reconsider the position of the consulates. Arrangements therefore are already in progress to provide for the immediate withdrawal from this country of the Hungarian consulates, both at Montreal and at Winnipeg.

The position of Hungarians within this country is similar to that of Roumanians and Bulgarians. They are not, for the time being, being treated as enemy nationals, and, technically, a state of war does not exist with any of these countries. The overwhelming majority of the Hungarians in this country, including both Hungarian nationals and those who have become naturalized, are loyal and law-abiding citizens. They will not be disturbed so long as their conduct conforms to our laws and is consistent with the allegiance which, under the laws of Canada, is due from all residents, irrespective of their national status or racial origin.

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

It is with deep regret that I inform the house of the death in New York, this morning, of Mr. Loring C. Christie. Hon. members may recall that, on February 17, I stated that the condition of Mr. Christie's health would necessitate a prolonged absence from his post as Canadian minister at Washington. At that time it was our earnest hope that a period of rest and relief from the duties and anxieties of his office would result in the restoration of his health. Unhappily that hope has not been realized.

In the passing of Mr. Christie, Canada has lost an exceedingly able and devoted public servant whose influence made itself felt in the shaping of national affairs and international relations during two very critical phases of our history. Mr. Christie was an adviser of the late Sir Robert Borden on questions of imperial and international relations throughout the last war, and at the peace conference at Paris in 1919. During the latter part of the conference on the limitation of armaments, which met at Washington in 1921-22, Mr. Christie acted as secretary-general of the British empire delegation.

In 1923, Mr. Christie resigned as legal adviser of the Department of External Affairs to form a business association. He returned to the public service in 1935. In the four years which preceded the outbreak of the present war, he served as counsellor in our Department of External Affairs where his extensive and intimate knowledge of constitutional and international law, his wide experience of international affairs, and his sound judgment were invaluable. In September, 1939, he was appointed Canadian minister to the United States. In that position he continued to render services of great value to Canada.

In Mr Christie's death, the diplomatic service of Canada has lost one who had contributed largely to its development, and whose premature passing will be felt as a great loss not only in Canada, but also in the United Kingdom and in the United States.

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

Mr. Speaker, .on behalf of the Conservative party and on my own behalf, I wish most sincerely to join in the eloquent tribute paid by the Prime Minister (Mr. Mackenzie King) to the memory of Loring Christie and in the sympathy to be conveyed to his widow and his son on his untimely passing.

Canadian Army-Enlistment

Through his training, his association and his wide experience, Loring Christie had obtained a knowledge of constitutional and international matters possessed by very few. His unquestioned ability usefully to employ that knowledge in the service of his country was well recognized. During the peace conference, in the capacity of technical adviser to the Canadian delegation, he came to be regarded in the same light as his intimate friend, Philip Kerr, the invaluable assistant to Lloyd George at that time. References to Mr. Christie as a highly efficient public servant and as a beloved companion are frequent and numerous throughout the pages of the Memoirs of Sir Robert Borden, whom he served so well It was a matter of sincere regret to those who appreciated well his qualifications that, for a time, the continuity of his public service was interrupted.

Our country has reason to regret the passing of so able and distinguished a Canadian.

Hon. J. L. RALSTON (Minister of National Defence):

May I be permitted to say just one word with regard to the passing of my friend Loring Christie. I am speaking not as a member of the government but as a fellow citizen of a boy whom I knew in my own home town. He was a schoolmate and boyhood friend, one whom I admired and whose companionship I cherished during very many years. I know that his home town of Amherst will be in mourning to-day over the passing of one whom we regarded as an illustrious son. I want to join in with what has been said in expressing the deepest sympathy with those who have been bereaved through his untimely passing.

Mr. P. C. BLACK (Cumberland):

May I be allowed, on behalf of the late Mr. Christie's family and his friends, in my home town and that of the Minister of National Defence (Mr. Ralston), to express my thanks to the Prime Minister (Mr. Mackenzie King) and to the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Hanson) for their kindly references to Mr. Christie. Mr. Christie came of the best blood in the mari-times. He had energy, ambition, and industry. He associated with the ablest and most outstanding men in this country, in Great Britain, and in the United States. His death is a very great loss to Canada and to British people everywhere.

Hon. J. L. RALSTON (Minister of National Defence):

Some time ago, when the war

appropriation bill was under discussion in committee, I made a statement with regard to

the methods of enlistment, and I indicated at that time that I might take the opportunity to make a further statement. After that developed, questions were asked, and it seemed to me that the matter had been pretty carefully gone into and that a further statement was not necessary. I rise now only because of the fact that hon. members are going home for the Easter holiday and there was a report in the morning press with regard to a new plan respecting the integration of reserve and active units. I thought it might be due to the house and interesting to hon. members if I said just a word with regard to that matter and with regard to methods of enlistment.

The idea which seems to be abroad, that men are not needed for the army, is quite wrong. The fact that there has been so little pressure has helped, perhaps, to create that impression. As a matter of fact we have been enlisting an average of about 5,000 per month for the first three months of this year, and it is probable that between 5,000 and 6,000 will be needed each month under present conditions for the active army, to fill up and keep filled up and to reinforce the active units overseas and in Canada. The call has gone out for this month's quota. There will be room in practically every district for enlistment for all arms of the service. We look primarily to the reserve units to supply these men as their first duty. They can do their bit in no better way just now than in doing that, and it puts their training to practical use. Men not in the reserve units can enlist direct in the active army. All they have to do, as hon. members know, is to see or write to any recruiting officer.

Now I come to the plan. In connection with reserve units, we are endeavouring to see that local association is preserved, so that, as far as the needs of the service permit, men on active service will be with units from their own territory. In order to help obtain that objective a new plan has been worked out for "matching up", if I may use that expression, each unit of the reserve army with some unit of the active army from that same territory. That, we think, will help to foster the spirit of provincial and local pride and comradeship. We are thus trying to create a link between a reserve unit and an active unit so that the reserve unit in sending forward volunteers can feel that it has an associated unit as their definite destination. In this way, as hon. members will realize, the reserve unit will not have just the responsibility for furnishing reinforcements but it will have the credit and satisfaction of reinforcing its affiliated unit which represents it in the active army.

Business oj the House-Procedure

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

I should like to compliment the minister on that statement, especially as regards the building up of an esprit de corps between the active units and those which are reinforcing them. May I ask the minister if this is the total announcement with respect to recruiting? I had heard that we were to have this policy announced over the radio to-night and I thank the minister for not doing it in that way. But is this the whole policy?

Mr. RALSTON:

This is the whole policy. As a matter of fact, over the radio to-night, what I proposed to do was to outline generally what I had already outlined to the house with regard to the primary duty of reserve units and the method whereby men could enlist either as members thereof or as men who were not members of reserve units. I also intended to refer to the plan to which reference has been made to-day. The only thing that will be new in connection with anything that is said in the broadcast will be with respect to the plan for affiliation or integration of the reserves.