Naval Service Bill
Encyclopedia
The Naval Service Bill of 1910 was a piece of Canadian government legislation, which was put forward by Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier
. Prior to the bill's introduction Canada
did not have a navy of its own, a state of affairs that left the Dominion dependent on the British
Royal Navy
for maritime defence. The Naval Service Bill was intended to provide Canada with a separate naval force, but one that, if needed, could be placed under British control during time of war. By the end of 1910, the Royal Canadian Navy
was created with a fleet of two former British Royal Navy vessels. Both French-Canadian nationalists and British-Canadian imperialists opposed the bill, which eventually led to the fall of Laurier’s government and the Naval Service Bill being replaced by a new bill put forward by Prime Minister Robert Borden
in 1912.
During the first few decades after Canadian Confederation
, maritime defence was not a priority. Defence of the Dominion was ultimately the responsibility of the United Kingdom and her navy had no equal at the time. Moreover, the United States Navy
was neglected in the decades following the American Civil War
and relations between London and Washington improved after the Treaty of Washington
was signed in 1871. There was no impetus to construct a Canadian Navy to counter any maritime threat based in the western hemisphere
since no such threat existed.
. This became a major competition between the two major powers, which led to both sides looking for an edge. Britain’s fear that Germany’s navy would catch up to its Royal Navy has been coined as the ‘Dreadnought
’ crisis. At the 1909 Imperial Conference, British officials requested help from the Dominion prime ministers, concerning its navy. This request imposed upon Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier what became known as his ‘naval question’.
The Royal Navy decided to build its own battleship
s and requested money from the Dominions to help finance this costly project. Australia and New Zealand agreed to the request, and many British Canadians expected Laurier’s Liberal
government to follow suit although they generally accepted that an indigenous navy was a better long-term solution as opposed to regular contributions to the British Admiralty. However, French-Canadian nationalists led by Henri Bourassa
and others were opposed to Canada having any involvement with Britain’s naval problem. This put Laurier in a very tough position, as the Canadian public was extremely divided.
. Canada’s navy was to be controlled by Ottawa, but during times of war it could be put under British control. Under this new bill Canada was to construct a naval college that was capable of training Canadian naval officers. This Naval College was constructed in 1910 in the city of Halifax
, Nova Scotia
. It also proposed under the bill that Canada would order the construction of five cruisers and six destroyers in order to create its own navy.
s to Canada. Canada’s first naval ship arrived on October 17th 1910; it was the former Royal Navy cruiser HMCS Niobe
. On November 7 the second ship HMCS Rainbow, which was also a former Royal Navy cruiser, arrived in British Columbia. These two cruisers were used mainly for training purposes.
Within Canada itself the Naval Service Bill was very controversial. The bill was strongly criticized by both the French Canadian
nationalists and the English Canadians. Imperialistic minded Canadians claimed that Canada was doing too little and/or was not showing enough loyalty to Britain. Conservatives famously dubbed Laurier’s new policy as the “Tin Pot Navy”. The bill was highly criticized by the French Canadian Nationalists, led by Henri Bourassa. Bourassa felt that the establishment of a Canadian navy that could be placed under British control was even worse than transferring cash to the British Admiralty, and that Canada risked being dragged into every single British war. In addition, the French nationalists were concerned that the navy would mean conscription for the Canadian people.
, under which, instead of building or supplying ships, Canada would give the British Royal Navy cash instead.The bill was defeated by the Liberal-dominated Canadian Senate
.
With the outbreak of World War I in 1914, Canada found herself automatically at war with the Central Powers
and the question of naval assistance quickly became a moot point. Any ships would have been built in British shipyards and with the onset of war Britain was building all that she could. Canada thus became focused upon her own war effort. As well without adequate forces to protect the West coast of Canada the UK tasked the defence of British Columbia to its ally in the Anglo-Japanese Alliance
, the Imperial Japanese Navy
's North American Task Force
.
Wilfrid Laurier
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911....
. Prior to the bill's introduction Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
did not have a navy of its own, a state of affairs that left the Dominion dependent on the British
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
for maritime defence. The Naval Service Bill was intended to provide Canada with a separate naval force, but one that, if needed, could be placed under British control during time of war. By the end of 1910, the Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
was created with a fleet of two former British Royal Navy vessels. Both French-Canadian nationalists and British-Canadian imperialists opposed the bill, which eventually led to the fall of Laurier’s government and the Naval Service Bill being replaced by a new bill put forward by Prime Minister Robert Borden
Robert Borden
Sir Robert Laird Borden, PC, GCMG, KC was a Canadian lawyer and politician. He served as the eighth Prime Minister of Canada from October 10, 1911 to July 10, 1920, and was the third Nova Scotian to hold this office...
in 1912.
19th century
During the first few decades after Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
, maritime defence was not a priority. Defence of the Dominion was ultimately the responsibility of the United Kingdom and her navy had no equal at the time. Moreover, the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
was neglected in the decades following the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and relations between London and Washington improved after the Treaty of Washington
Treaty of Washington (1871)
The Treaty of Washington was a treaty signed and ratified by Great Britain and the United States in 1871 that settled various disputes between the countries, in particular the Alabama Claims.-Background:...
was signed in 1871. There was no impetus to construct a Canadian Navy to counter any maritime threat based in the western hemisphere
Western Hemisphere
The Western Hemisphere or western hemisphere is mainly used as a geographical term for the half of the Earth that lies west of the Prime Meridian and east of the Antimeridian , the other half being called the Eastern Hemisphere.In this sense, the western hemisphere consists of the western portions...
since no such threat existed.
20th century
During the early years of the twentieth century, Britain found herself in a naval race with the German EmpireGerman Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
. This became a major competition between the two major powers, which led to both sides looking for an edge. Britain’s fear that Germany’s navy would catch up to its Royal Navy has been coined as the ‘Dreadnought
Dreadnought
The dreadnought was the predominant type of 20th-century battleship. The first of the kind, the Royal Navy's had such an impact when launched in 1906 that similar battleships built after her were referred to as "dreadnoughts", and earlier battleships became known as pre-dreadnoughts...
’ crisis. At the 1909 Imperial Conference, British officials requested help from the Dominion prime ministers, concerning its navy. This request imposed upon Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier what became known as his ‘naval question’.
The Royal Navy decided to build its own battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
s and requested money from the Dominions to help finance this costly project. Australia and New Zealand agreed to the request, and many British Canadians expected Laurier’s Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
government to follow suit although they generally accepted that an indigenous navy was a better long-term solution as opposed to regular contributions to the British Admiralty. However, French-Canadian nationalists led by Henri Bourassa
Henri Bourassa
Joseph-Napoléon-Henri Bourassa was a French Canadian political leader and publisher. He is seen by many as an ideological father of Canadian nationalism....
and others were opposed to Canada having any involvement with Britain’s naval problem. This put Laurier in a very tough position, as the Canadian public was extremely divided.
Laurier's compromise
Laurier’s compromise was The Naval Service Bill, which was introduced in January 1910. It set up the Department of Naval Services, which would operate a small Canadian NavyThe Creation of the Canadian Navy
At the onset of Confederation in 1867, political planners in Canada and Great Britain realized that Canada had substantial maritime interests to protect. Boasting the fourth largest Merchant Marine in the world, and deriving the majority of its foreign capital through maritime trading should have...
. Canada’s navy was to be controlled by Ottawa, but during times of war it could be put under British control. Under this new bill Canada was to construct a naval college that was capable of training Canadian naval officers. This Naval College was constructed in 1910 in the city of Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. It also proposed under the bill that Canada would order the construction of five cruisers and six destroyers in order to create its own navy.
Reaction
While the British Admiralty was disappointed to hear that Canada's assistance was to come in the form of its own naval force instead of funding British dreadnoughts, they were willing to accept any form of assistance as opposed to none at all. To this end the British authorized the transfer of two old cruiserCruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
s to Canada. Canada’s first naval ship arrived on October 17th 1910; it was the former Royal Navy cruiser HMCS Niobe
HMS Niobe (1897)
HMS Niobe was a ship of the Diadem-class of protected cruiser in the Royal Navy. She served in the Boer War and was then given to Canada as the first ship of the then newly-created Royal Canadian Navy as HMCS Niobe. After patrol duties at the beginning of the First World War, she became a depot...
. On November 7 the second ship HMCS Rainbow, which was also a former Royal Navy cruiser, arrived in British Columbia. These two cruisers were used mainly for training purposes.
Within Canada itself the Naval Service Bill was very controversial. The bill was strongly criticized by both the French Canadian
French Canadian
French Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries...
nationalists and the English Canadians. Imperialistic minded Canadians claimed that Canada was doing too little and/or was not showing enough loyalty to Britain. Conservatives famously dubbed Laurier’s new policy as the “Tin Pot Navy”. The bill was highly criticized by the French Canadian Nationalists, led by Henri Bourassa. Bourassa felt that the establishment of a Canadian navy that could be placed under British control was even worse than transferring cash to the British Admiralty, and that Canada risked being dragged into every single British war. In addition, the French nationalists were concerned that the navy would mean conscription for the Canadian people.
Aftermath
The loss of French support for Laurier’s Liberals led to his party being defeated in the 1911 election. He was replaced by the Conservatives, led by Robert Borden. In 1913, Borden replaced the Naval Service Bill with the Naval Aid BillNaval Aid Bill
The Naval Aid Bill is a bill introduced in the Canadian House of Commons, by Progressive Conservative Prime Minister Robert Borden on December 5th, 1912. The Borden government invoked closure on the debate, for the first time ever, on May 15, 1913. It was defeated in the Liberal-dominated senate,...
, under which, instead of building or supplying ships, Canada would give the British Royal Navy cash instead.The bill was defeated by the Liberal-dominated Canadian Senate
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
.
With the outbreak of World War I in 1914, Canada found herself automatically at war with the Central Powers
Central Powers
The Central Powers were one of the two warring factions in World War I , composed of the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Bulgaria...
and the question of naval assistance quickly became a moot point. Any ships would have been built in British shipyards and with the onset of war Britain was building all that she could. Canada thus became focused upon her own war effort. As well without adequate forces to protect the West coast of Canada the UK tasked the defence of British Columbia to its ally in the Anglo-Japanese Alliance
Anglo-Japanese Alliance
The first was signed in London at what is now the Lansdowne Club, on January 30, 1902, by Lord Lansdowne and Hayashi Tadasu . A diplomatic milestone for its ending of Britain's splendid isolation, the alliance was renewed and extended in scope twice, in 1905 and 1911, before its demise in 1921...
, the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
's North American Task Force
North American Task Force
The was an Imperial Japanese Navy fleet. In accordance with the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, the fleet defended the West Coast of Canada as well as Allied shipping in the Pacific during World War I.-Background:...
.
Work Cited
- Berger, Carl “Imperialism and Nationalism, 1884-1914: A Conflict in Canadian Thought” R. Douglas Francis and Donald B. Smith Readings in Canadian History Toronto: Nelson/Thompson 2006
- Bercusion, David J. and J. L Granastein The Collins Dictionary of Canadian History Toronto: Collins 1988
- Bercusion, David J. and J. L Granastein, Dictionary of Canadian Military History, Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1992
- Francis, R. Douglas, Richard Jones and Donald B. Smith, Destinies: Canadian History Since Confederation, Scarborough Ontario: Nelson/Thompson 2004
- Gough, Barry M. Historical Dictionary of Canada, London: Scarecrow Press, 1999
- Hill, Brian, Canada A Chronology and Fact Book, New York, Oceana 1973
- Myers, Jay, Canadian Fact and Dates, Markham Ontario: Fitzhenrt and Whiteside, 1986