ARTICLES

ARTICLES
Meanwhile, Hutton, anxious of his fate, continued to pepper Minto with his own perspective
on events, complaining of ever more offensive communications by Borden and guessing
correctly that the government wanted to force him to resign or, failing that, demand his recall. 125
“I suppose that Sir Wilfrid has seen you about myself,” he wrote, “I have been distant with
Dr. Borden, and by the wild look of the gentleman I gather that he is in a suppressed state of
indignation and whisky.” 126 At the same time, Hutton appealed to his patrons back home
for support and prepared them to accept his version of the unfolding crisis. 127 To
General Sir Evelyn Wood, Adjutant-General to the British Army, he explained that the Laurier
government had “credited me with having forced their hands and aroused public opinion” and
that, as a result, “I am viewed with jealousy and suspicion.” 128 “For this reason,” he continued,
“I am now the victim of petty unpleasantness and discourtesies, which if they are seriously
augmented may make it almost impossible for me to remain.” 129
A week later Laurier again met with Minto, bringing with him the Governor General’s earlier
memo, and pointing out that he and his colleagues believed Minto to have misunderstood the
relative authority of the minister and general. 130 Minto, nonetheless, again warned that he
would write a protest if Laurier demanded Hutton’s recall, and that he would see it placed on
the official record. Laurier was unimpressed, hoping to keep matters confidential, but he would
not be deterred. 131 Two days later, on 29 January, despite Minto’s threats, Laurier wrote his own
note to Council, initiating Hutton’s recall. It described conditions within the Department of
Militia as “very unsatisfactory by reason of the attitude of Major-General Hutton towards the
Minister of Militia and the Government.” 132 Laurier requested that the Colonial Office expedite
the general’s immediate recall. 133 The next day Minto told Laurier that given “the present
anxious condition of the Empire,” he was considering declining to sign the Prime Minister’s
order, “even though my refusal might be unconstitutional.” 134 Minto also told Laurier that he
believed that the possibility existed that the Imperial government might refuse to consider the
request for Hutton’s recall, in order to avoid removing a “most capable officer” at such a critical
time. 135 Minto warned Laurier that his government was taking on a grave public and political
risk in its course of action and suggested rearranging Cabinet. Laurier retorted that no minister
would serve with Hutton. The meeting closed with the Prime Minister leaving his Orderin-Council
with Minto. Hutton’s spirits sagged. He wrote to the Military Secretary at the War
Office, Major-General Sir Coleridge Grove, this time not to plead for service in South Africa
but rather to inquire about the possibility of ending his appointment in Canada. Grove replied
that he was quite aware of “the extent to which politics permeate the military administration
in Canada” but indicated that Hutton would have to resign if he wanted to come home. 136
Meanwhile, Borden maintained the pressure on Laurier to see Hutton removed. On 3 February,
in a rage, he sent Laurier a new set of accusations regarding a system of “secret orders” that he
had discovered that morning in Hutton’s headquarters. It appeared that the GOC had directed
his subordinates not to respond to any correspondence from the minister, or meet with him
directly if possible, without first getting Hutton’s permission and thereafter reporting back
anything that had transpired. 137 Such conduct, according to Borden, was “unprecedented in
our history,” “unsupported by the rules and practice of the English War Office,” and was
certainly opposed to the efficient working of the department. 138 In truth, however, the idea of
a “secret orders” scandal was an invention of the minister for his own purposes. 139
WWW.ARMY.FORCES.GC.CA/CAJ 43