Shortly after this exchange, The Newcastle Daily Journal published a brief story

SUFFRAGETTES: Stern Hint from Canada”

It is stated in Ottawa that a warm reception awaits any militant British suffragette

who goes over to Canada. The Dominion immigration officials have conferred on

the subject, and have decided to deport all militant suffragettes as undesirable

aliens if they attempt to make any demonstrations in Canada. This rule will apply

only to the violent sort of suffragists, as the Canadian authorities do not propose

to allow windows to be broken and Ministers assaulted.

Emily Davison challenged the negative cast of this story, turning it into an assertion of

Canadian far-sightedness and suffrage victory:

September 7, 1912, to the Editor of The Newcastle Daily Journal

“Canada and Militant Suffragettes”

Sir, –In your issue of September 4th there is a small paragraph headed ‘Militant

Suffragettes,’ in which you state that ‘the Dominion immigration officials have

decided to deport all militant suffragettes as undesirable aliens if they attempt

to demonstrate in Canada,’ the object being, as your further declare, to prevent

windows being broken and ministers assaulted. These precautions are no doubt

due to the very harmless little reminder which Miss Barrett18 gave Mr. Borden,

that if he in Canada takes up the absurd attitude of the present Government

here towards this question, he will probably find that Canadian women will

not stand any nonsense. Your report looks as if the Canadian authorities are

doing precisely what the W.S.P.U. hoped they would do, i.e., taking stock of the

situation, and that they evidently want to take the bull by the horns in good time.

Will you allow me to suggest that the most effective way would be to avoid

infuriating the bull, and to promptly get the nine various Legislatures to bring in a

measure giving votes for women? By doing so they would accomplish many

desirable things:–

(a) Show themselves to be as progressive as parts of the Empire as New

Zealand or Australia

(b) Encourage women immigrants, of whom at present they stand in great

need.

(c) Avoid the foolish mistake of the old country in seeking to repress what

is inevitable by terrorism and oppression.

The woman suffrage cause is now hydra-headed.

EMILY WILDING DAVISON

6th September, 1912

Longhorsley, Northumberland