the Governor General early, on 7 September, to consider a declaration of war. Canada's political leaders used this moment to assert Canada's independence from the UK, as already established by the Statute of Westminster. The throne speech, read by Governor General the Lord Tweedsmuir, set out the Cabinet's proposal for taking the country to war and associated measures, after which the address in reply was debated. The Senate passed the motion to adopt the address in reply on 9 September, while the House of Commons continued to discuss the matter until also adopting the motion late that evening. The following day, the Cabinet issued an order-in-council stating that Canada was at war with Germany. Vincent Massey, Canada's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, brought the document to King George VI, at the Royal Lodge, Windsor Great Park, for his signature, whereupon Canada had officially declared war on Germany. In his capacity as the government's official recorder for the war effort, Leonard Brockington noted: " did not ask us to declare war for him—we asked King George VI of Canada to declare war for us." The time difference between Britain's and Canada's entry into the conflict was partly intended to demonstrate Canada's sovereignty. As 10 September was a Sunday, the order-in-council was tabled in the House only on the following day, when the Prime Minister told that chamber that the Cabinet had issued the order shortly after the motion had been adopted and that the government had been informed, at 11:15 a.m., on 10 September, that the King had granted his approval of the proclamation. These were significant developments, as they became examples for other Dominions to follow and, by the war's end, F.R. Scott concluded, "it is firmly established as a basic constitutional principle that, so far as relates to Canada, the King is regulated by Canadian law and must act only on the advice and responsibility of Canadian ministers." The state of war was ended by another royal proclamation issued in 1951. Documents Prime Minister King's speech Below is the speech, given by William Lyon Mackenzie King: Royal proclamation The following proclamation was published in the Canada Gazette, Canada's official publication of record, the morning following Canada's declaration of war on Nazi Germany. See also Declaration of war by Canada Declarations of war during World War II Diplomatic history of World War II United Kingdom declaration of war on