You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Source: Library and Archives Canada<br />
Troops of the Royal Canadian Regiment crossing Paardeberg Drift, February 1900<br />
had control of its procurement and finances, he would have discovered the truth. Further,<br />
Strathcona’s plan would allow Hutton to assume the functions of the civilian branch of the<br />
militia department, even if only temporarily and for a specific purpose. Neither politician could<br />
accept this new role for the GOC. 117 Their solution lay in “exploiting the tension that already<br />
existed.” 118 That is, Laurier and Borden collaborated at this point to see Hutton removed, which<br />
to some extent explains the further hardening of attitudes of both men from mid-January. 119<br />
Laurier moved quickly to pressure Strathcona to reverse his decision to place Hutton, outside<br />
of normal departmental chains, in charge of overseeing his force. He disingenuously assured<br />
Strathcona there had been no “politics” in the raising of either contingent thus far. 120 Strathcona<br />
conceded the issue to Laurier. 121<br />
In the wake of such controversies, Hutton went to Halifax to oversee the departure of the<br />
second Canadian contingent, leaving Minto to deal with Laurier and the ever-deepening rift<br />
between the GOC and his political masters. 122 Minto’s plan to deal with the government’s clear<br />
desire to remove Hutton was to delay and to consult London. A subsequent series of interviews<br />
between Minto and Laurier were heated. Laurier complained that Hutton was meddlesome<br />
and insubordinate. Minto defended his old friend to the hilt, telling the Prime Minister that<br />
political interference in the Militia Department prevented Hutton from doing “good work,”<br />
and that, if compelled to ask London for his removal, he would place his own official opinion<br />
on the matter before the Colonial Secretary. 123 Such an action, Laurier retorted, might compel<br />
his government to resign. Minto wrote to Chamberlain that in such circumstances he would<br />
accept its resignation. After a further interview between the two men on 20 January, Minto<br />
wrote a memo protesting against both ongoing political interference in military affairs and<br />
Borden’s discourtesies towards Hutton. This memo, according to Minto, fell accidentally into<br />
Cabinet hands rather than into the possession of a Cabinet committee as he had intended. 124<br />
42 THE CANADIAN ARMY JOURNAL VOLUME 16.2 2016
Change language