IN BRITAIN. EMPIRE PROBLEMS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8396, 11 March 1916, Page 6

IN BRITAIN.

EMPIRE PROBLEMS.

2,loriiJ£R COUNTRY AND THE DOMINIONS.

LONDON, March 9. ' The King, gave an audience to the Bon. \V. M. Hughes. ." - Subsequently Mv Hughes attended a ineeting of Cabinet, Mr A&quith introducing him to the other Ministers, and took pait in the deliberations. ' A'ftei^arda Mr Hughes attended a - PaTiiainuntai-y luncheon in his honour. 'itr Jiona*" Law, in a speech of welJcyWv said ■ Britain had had many > Siurprisca, in this war. The enemy's V'reafcest surprise was the additional ' - the Dominions gavo to 1 -''die iimpiro. 'Australia, New Zealand, icfid Canada were- no more loyal to Britain than Britain was loyal to them. The Dominions realised that the battle was as much for them as for Britain, involving everything they held dear, and everything making life worth living for. Any Government which Jiad not brought victory was inevitably criticised. The people of Britain had the power-in their own hands, but the Dominions were in a different position. They' had poured forth their money and" sacrificed the lives of their best men. and yet.had neither say, in, nor control of, the way in which their money and lives were spent. Their criticism would be a very different and Vnpre' dangerous thing in the existing state of things under which the Dominions gave so much; 'and had so little control. "This cannot be permanent/ said Mr Bonar Law. '/Things after the war cannot remain the same. The war has shown that the Empire is one' in spirit and in action, and therefore means should he-found to make ■ it one. in-.structure for all .time."\, Personally, he believed 'the'future would depend upon the.action of• the Dominions. The Mother Country would welcome'ralmost any scheme they ap-r proved, and would probably find a big -stßp aseasy to make as a little one. "Mi- Hughes, in replyingy reviewed .■,^-.:.;-s'i£*,e£ekts' f of... the war. The Germans rjV^l^l^ospfectsv of" rich" loot, • and' ;wero ;r.4^^ye.tl'''''Ui)v:with:.'the hope/" not especi-: },^tfsf^'-.5%?%h.& downfall. pf;. : B.rita'in, put of ''-'o'-;:si£*6&?ilf. ■'■!;' Reviewing •the/-,hpld', ; the; 'rj^:^a%'il|i^-^M'''li^.von:rthe, trade' of the ;' '•■-'£ .llughes' said : we" had lived \'W-'-:-.&iWvi^^ .futile, to :;' .Vr.-ftewail^';-that;;;'-:fact, ■'.: -but; it....w0u1d,;, be • ;''/''--mmin'^;'in6t\'t6'.'learn^wis,doin from it. ":J"-X..';-..EtS'gardingv.s.thje. relations between the ]),omiTii6ris and .the Moiher. Country, .lie''Hoped fco sec"a policy evolved to ':'%ake: the word Empire mean some'thing 1 more than it had don^' in'-thfe; ■ipast. 7 If they could esta.bh'sh^|or evei■■\i); -Federation of the Empire.^:'Wouldordure the peace of the world.' 'Brrtain liad been expanding her commercial ; and industrial position at the expense, of national .safety, imagining that there- was no relation .between them. • '.■.Britain's absolute dependence for her ■very "existence turned upon the posses- ' sion of raw material --for munitions. . Yet she had bound' herself body and soul to the German octopus controlling copper, zinc, and lead. We should be worse fools if we did not learn a lesson . from the. manner in which we had! been 'betrayed. .'Everything- must be subordinated to !the destruction of Germany's control of, British trade, and thereby strike a blow at Germany more important than a decisive land battle. ■When the war was decided, Germany's opportunities for world-dominion must be gone for ever. ' Mr, F. M.B. Fisher, of New Zealand, proposed the health of • the chairman. . ■ >. : Mr .■■Bonar Law, in responding, an- ., .-.nounced, that-during his visit the Government would have no secrets from •Mr Hughes. This must be regarded as :'• i.nclieating that he had been invited to share their/highest councils when.evov ■'Dominion subjects were being .■.-aiwnsse'd. 1, , • ' " - ■