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14 Sir : On behalf of Canada, I wish to say that we do not join in this request in any way. The law in Canada allows a person to marry his deceased wife’s sister, it was altered some years ago by Parliament, it is the law of the country now, but there has been no suggestion made on the part of the people or of the Government of Canada that we should indicate in any way to the Imperial Government the propriety of asking the people of England to alter their law upon the subject. The same feeling which actuated us in altering our law induces us to respect the feeling of England, and if Canada ever does desire to make any such request no doubt it will be put forward in a legitimate way. Mr. Fleming and myself, who are here from Canada, are not here to represent to the Imperial Government that we desire any change in the law in this respect. We altered our law to suit our position in conformity with the desire of the people, and we are quite willing that the people of England should retain their laws until they see a necessity for changing them.

Mr. :I think, Sir, Mr. Downer was rather misunderstood, we do not ask the English people to change the laws with regard to marriage, we simply ask them to recognise to the fullest extent the validity of our laws.

The : You ask us to alter our law with regard to inheritance.

Mr. : As Mr. Downer has pointed out, the