THE EMPIRE AS BURDEN AND SUPPORT
devolves on Eire herself since the end of 1938. The
British government abandoned its former attitude in
this matter in the belief that the goodwill and the
friendship of Ireland as expressed in the Anglo-Irish
Agreement signed in the spring of 1938 are worth more
than formal safeguards. Upon the signing of the
agreement the government of Eire laid particular stress
on the promise that no foreign power would ever be
permitted to use Irish territory as a war basis against
Great Britain.
The most difficult case is perhaps Canada. In the
years when the League of Nations was tested in practice
the government of Canada steadfastly refused to take
any part in economic sanctions, and over and above
this it has always consistently opposed any collective
policy which involved duties and burdens. Thus it
is likely that Canada will prove a difficult partner in
the new British league of nations too. Canada is
territorially far removed from Europe; she has all
the raw materials she needs, and much more, and she
has no hostile neighbours whose presence would compel
the population to think politically. The influence of
her great neighbour, the United States, makes Canada
inclined to pursue a Monroe Doctrine of her own.
In consequence public opinion in Canada is sharply
divided. One section of the population is loyal to
Great Britain and to the British Empire, and it feels
convinced that on the outbreak of a new war Canadians
would flock to the colours to assist Great Britain as
they did in 1914, or that at the very least the damage
223