British Empire flag
The early 1900s saw many calls for the British Empire to adopt a new flag representative of all its dominions, Crown colonies, protectorates, and territories. Such a role was already fulfilled by the Union Jack of the United Kingdom, but some regions of the empire were beginning to develop distinct national identities that no longer seemed appropriately showcased by that flag alone. For example, after achieving self-governance, Canada used a British ensign emblazoned by its coat of arms as a flag to represent itself internationally. Other regions such as Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa began using similar flags as they gained autonomy as well. Although the Union Jack in the canton of these flags was a natural inclusion to their primarily British settlers, who considered the United Kingdom to be their homeland, some believed that the growing status of all these new nations deserved to be highlighted in some form. This led to the creation of Empire flags, which saw use from the beginning of the reign of George V to the end of the Second World War.
Views on using the Union Jack
A flag of the British Isles
What made the British Empire unique among its contemporaries was that it resembled an association of nations rather than a highly centralized state. The laws and institutions of each constituent territory did not necessarily recognise the existence of a wider empire. It was pointed out at a 1914 series of lectures on the governance of the British Empire at King's College that there was no common currency in circulation, record of marital status, or process of naturalization. The Union Jack also did not function as a true Empire flag as far as the law was concerned. Each of the territories of the empire were simply possessions of a common monarch. Despite the legislative supremacy of the United Kingdom, colonial opinions were moving toward seeking institutional equality while still recognizing a shared existence under the Crown.Canadian opinions
In 1913, an article featured by the Evening Record in Canada acknowledged the Union Jack as an Empire flag, with the caveat of not necessarily being able to adequately represent certain nationalities. The author described their dissatisfaction with the lack of patriotism on display in Canada, and how many would rather spend vacations in London rather than exploring their own country. He saw value in the introduction of flag drills and other patriotic ceremonies to get schoolchildren interested in their home, but not if they would utilize the Union Jack. The article ended with a call for a distinct Canadian flag in order to develop a sense of national unity.A Canadian writing to the Leader-Post was featured in a 1939 article, and they claimed it was nonsense that adopting a flag to replace the Union Jack would be seen as a desire to withdraw from the empire. They felt a flag was necessary, as Canada had been forced to resort to an ensign meant for use at sea on all occasions it wanted to represent itself. On the Union Jack, the article argued that it was not an imperial flag due to it only having been designed due to changes occurring locally on the British Isles. There was no Canada or Australia when the Union Jack was first adopted, so it could not represent the hundreds of millions of people who had since become part of the empire. Furthermore, it claimed that if the monarch referred to Canada as one of multiple free and equal nations within the empire, Canada was entitled to a flag as a mark of nationhood.
The Native Sons of Canada renewed demands for a Canadian flag around 1932, and held many discussions on the matter at their conventions since 1925. C. M. Woodworth, the vice president of the organisation, believed that it was unacceptable for Canada to continue flying the Union Jack when other countries such as Ireland and South Africa had adopted their own. He claimed the flags of Ireland and South Africa reduced the Union Jack to being a symbol that could only represent the United Kingdom, and that Canada had to follow their lead in adopting a distinct design of its own. The Canadian Red Ensign was not considered to be sufficient, as it was not necessarily a legal flag. It was only approved for use at sea as a civil ensign, and Canada recognized the Union Jack alone in any official capacity. This left Canada as the only dominion to not have a unique flag recognized by law. The lack of a flag was becoming problematic as well, as Woodworth noted how some in Quebec had taken to flying the French tricolour after a visit by their navy. High support for a new flag in Ontario and Quebec was cited, but it was noted that a major obstacle was choosing a design. The only thing most could agree on was the inclusion of a maple leaf. Near the end of the article is a mention of Woodworth having withheld his opinion on the creation of an Empire flag.
File:North-West Mounted Police standing next to American and British flags marking the boundary between Alaska and British Columbia.jpeg|thumb|A Union Jack at the border of Alaska and British Columbia in 1899
In 1939, both Prime Minister Mackenzie King and R. B. Bennett, leader of the Opposition, endorsed a proposal made in the House of Commons for a distinct Canadian flag like those already adopted by the other dominions. It was initially put forward by Cameron McIntosh, a Liberal member from Saskatchewan, who called for creating a committee to investigate the matter. Thomas Church, Frederick Betts, and J. R. MacNicol of the Conservatives opposed this on the grounds that a flag may erode imperial unity. However, Bennett believed this concern to be unfounded after visiting the other dominions and noting that the strong bonds with the United Kingdom were still clearly visible, despite the Union Jack not being as widely used as in Canada. Mackenzie King approached his argument for change from a historical angle. He reviewed the history of the evolution of the Union Jack, and how it changed to reflect the political reality of the British Isles. It had only become the flag of the empire in 1801, and has since not changed with the unforeseen emergence of the dominions later in the century. The Union Jack was given official status in Canada by the insistence of the Colonial Secretary, but their role in the country had been abolished as the dominions earned more autonomy. In the eyes of Mackenzie King, the situation had at that point changed completely. He later highlighted other practical issues as well. These included not having a unique flag to use at overseas legations, at war memorials where fallen Canadian soldiers could not be highlighted among the other imperial forces, and at international events such as the Olympics. Canada also had difficulty standing out as a distinct realm of the British Empire if it continued using the Union Jack.
Australian opinions
A 1924 article in Australia declared the idea that there is a British Empire flag was a misconception. The flag was pointed out as being designed for the United Kingdom specifically, and that use of it elsewhere was highly restricted. Even the governor general of a dominion could not fly the flag without defacing it with their emblem. Those in the Australian Army had to deface the Union Jack if it formed part of their regimental colours, and the Royal Australian Navy could not use it as well. Soldiers of the British Army were alleged to have the privilege to remove the Union Jack wherever it was flown inappropriately, but this was not ever exercised. The article went on to encourage Australians to use their own flag, as it was "an act of grace and love" for the monarch to have provided one unique to them. It argued that it was not an act of disrespect to fly it in place of the Union Jack when it was already included in the design.There was a slightly different opinion offered in a 1926 article in the Southern Cross weekly newspaper. It argued that the Union Jack had become an outdated symbol since the establishment of the Irish Free State. Additionally, it questioned why the dominions recognized the United Kingdom in their flags through the Union Jack without any reciprocation. Maxwell Garnett, general secretary of the League of Nations Union, suggested altering the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom to include dominion symbols as a possible solution for that issue.
Another article published around the same time in the Southern Mail indicated that some Australians had begun to think of the Union Jack as a foreign symbol. The author spoke of a man who referred to the Union Jack as the symbol of a united England, Scotland, and Ireland rather than the entire British Empire. He questioned whether the man was ashamed to be living under the Union Jack, and wished for everyone in the country to forget their past and enjoy the privileges afforded to them as Australians. What followed in the text was a rebuttal, claiming that Australians did not see the Union Jack as a flag of servitude. Nonetheless, the author still supported those choosing to fly the Australian flag itself, as it was itself a privilege granted by the British.