Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1920. UNITY OF EMPIRE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLI, Issue 9382, 2 December 1920, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1920. UNITY OF EMPIRE.

A statement has been made by the Prime Minister relative to the Dominion's representation at the Imperial Conference to be held in London about tjie middle of next year. He intimated that there was yet a pos'sibilty, that he, wouldbe able to attend, but the probaJj'lity was that owing to important business requiring his personal attention, and the possibilities of the industrial situation, he would be unable to leave the Dominion, and in this case New Zealand would be represented by Sir Francis Bell and Sir James Allen., It goes without saying that the Conference is destined to be one of the most important in the history of the Empire. The necessity for holding the Conference was affirmed at the Imperial War Conference in 1917, it berno- then agreed -that the readjustment of the constitutional relations of component parts of ,the \ Empire wastpp important and intricate a subjec|,4o ..be dealt ■.•With: during the war, and that it should form' the subject of a special Imperial Conference^ to be summoned as soon^as 'possible aftqr the ces.sa.-' tionpf hostiltie.s.. .. The conference also placed, on. xe^brd its view:—— "l\haJ ;i.' any su*c;h readjustment, \«?siileKthoroughly preserVjing all existing powers of selfJgßvernment a"iid. complete "pontrol of, dopLestic affairs, be .based upon .a £ullrrecognition of- the Dominions as autonomous nations of an Imperial Commonwealthj and-of India as an important portion ol the same, should recognise the right of the Dominions and India to an adequate voice in foreign policy and in foreign relations, and should provide effective arrangements for continuous consultation in all important matters of common Imperial concern, and for such necessary concerted action founded on consultation, as the several governments can determine." There has been some suggestion that it is not the. intention to decide upon constitutional changes until 1922, but next year's Conference will at least provide material for discussion in Britain and the Dominions on the new basis of Empire government. It is true the Dominions have won their nationhood, and. there is no dobut that henceforth they must have a voice in the foreign, policy of the Empire, j but .it will not be easy to so mould our constitution as to effectively give them that voice and at the same time ensure that in times of crisis the Empire will speak with only one voice. The recent decision of Canada in sending' a Minister to Washington was regarded as somewhat xmusual, but no doubt Canada's action was dictated by considerations of practical and commercial

importance .and hot by any desire to emphasise her almost .indepen-dent-status.- If this is iso, New Zealand might very- properly follow the example of Canada. Thit Dominion has large commercial interests in America, andi is about .to buildup an extensive;; trade in frozen, meat. It .might; reasonably be Tasked why New; Zealand should not have an official representative 'of Canada. An excellent choice be Sir Thomas Mackenzie, ex-High Commissioner. Sir' Thomas has, it is stated, no intention, df returning to poliitics. The position of Commissioner for ,N§w» Zealand in the United ' Stages would 'be one in which his activities might be profitably employed. To return to the Imperial Conference,, however, it is' desirable that the various countries 'of the Empire should be so placed as to 'act unitedly /in dealing with all important international affairs, particularly where the League of Nations is concerned. Each Do-minion-lias the right to make representations direct to the League, but, as Dr. Berriedale . Keith, recently, it should be easy to ■ secure agree-, ment in the principle that neither, the United Kingdom noriany Dominion ; should address any communication, to the League save after- consultation with the other parts of the "Empire. Such n agreement would go far tb ensure Imperial unity in making representations to the Leaguej and at the same time would establish tlie conditions in which the. Empire would be best placed, to support^ and uphold that organisation.'■' There are: other important ques- » tions waiting to be discussed by tbe Imperial Conference, such as Imperial preference and fiscal unity/which is by no means unimportant in creating a united ■ and self-supporting Empire.