ARTICLES

Source: Library and Archives Canada
Soldiers going to the Boer War, near the Post Office in Ottawa
Borden and William Mulock, the Postmaster General, declared in favour. Other members
vacillated in between those two positions. No result was obtained and a new meeting was
scheduled for the next day. In the meantime, Laurier passed a message to Chamberlain that
his views had not varied and, moreover, in sharp tones, noted “the clandestine attempt which
is made to force our hands must unavoidably result in impeding rather than in facilitating
whatever action we may have to take.” 75 Chamberlain replied, making it clear, once more, that
an official offer would be appreciated. 76 The next day, 13 October, with no real alternative,
Cabinet voted in favour of sending troops. 77 The Canadian contingent was on its way.
Chamberlain wrote to Minto that “[a]ll’s well that ends well.” 78
For his part, Hutton had been under siege. His chief staff officer, Colonel Hubert Foster, warned
him on 7 October that an “astonished” Cabinet believed he had offered Canadian troops to
London, and hence Chamberlain’s cable. 79 Hutton was forced to reassure Minto two days later
that he was not the source of the Gazette’s information. 80 Foster was summoned by Borden on
12 October and told to get from Hutton “some denial” of having communicated to London a
secret offer of Canadian troops. Borden did not believe it, but wished for something concrete
with which to reassure his colleagues. 81 Rather than giving his minister what he needed,
however, Hutton replied to Foster than the idea that he offered the contingent was “too absurd”
for a denial. 82 Angry such a message had not come directly to him, Hutton declined to respond
to Borden’s request. 83 Meanwhile, La Patrie, Tarte’s newspaper, directly accused Hutton of
38 THE CANADIAN ARMY JOURNAL VOLUME 16.2 2016