 Within the cabinet Richard Scott and Israel Tarte were opposed to Canada fighting in South Africa while Henri Bourassa, a Liberal back-bencher had emerged as the leading voice in the House of Commons opposed to an expedition to South Africa.On 3 October, Laurier received a Colonial Office circular thanking his government for its "offer" of 250 men to South Africa, an offer that he not made while at the same time the October 1899 edition of "Canadian Military Gazette" published the details of a plan to mobilize 1,200 men for South Africa.Caught on the spot, Laurier received a note on 9 October from the editor of the Liberal "Toronto Globe" saying he "must either send troops or get out of office" as the majority of voters in Ontario wanted Canada to fight in South Africa.