OPINION STIRRED UP.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 70, 22 March 1916, Page 5

OPINION STIRRED UP.

EXAMPLE TO GREAT BRITAIN. NO DEFINITE SCHEME. LONDON, March 21. The striking speeches of Mr. Hughes, Premier of -Australia, have, stirred up British public opinion regarding the increasingly interesting prpblems of the Dominions. are giving prominence to the. speeches, referring gratefully to their determined 'tone. Some newspapers compare them with the ' prevailing slackness in.British governing circles upon -Empire subjects, and" are publishing criticisms of ,Mr. Asquith, and challenging the Government 'for' hesitat-' ing to invite Mr. Hughes to attend the Allies' economic conference in Paris, upon full representative terms; It is certain that Mr. Hughes will not attend the conference if He is to be a mere onlooker, and if he" is. not given powers worthy of the representative of a great Dominion. ' DELICATE PROBLEM. Although ilr Bonav Law's' recent speech, to the effect that a big step i migbt be found as easy as a little one, is regarded.as an indication that something in the nature of a permanent Dominions' voice may; after the" war, be admitted to- : the councils of the Empire, it must be remembered" that Mr Boriar Law emphasised that he was not speaking for the Government. - - ;"--. • •'• • ; -" : -, ■'■ . Mr.. Hughes has given no details of his definite •proposals for closer - relations, - nor have the Canadian, South African or New Zealand views been disclosed. All the newspapers realise India's claims. Japan's position and the problem of the Pacific are, they state, closely bound tip with the solution of-this most delicate - and'vital'-problem. - - ''*'•' '■■ t ' POSSIBLY DELATED. —It is- understood-that-Mr. Hughes will possibly, delay the submission of-, his definite -proposals until after, the war. ■ A section"'of the Press considers that in ' view of the Government's unwillingness to deal.with the. matter.urgently the whole of the questions affecting tto status of the' Dominions "on -matters of foreign policy might be„ remitted, to a post-war Imperial Conference. It is . clear .that- the.... liirperial .Government favours postponement of the settlement of the questions of closer relations until the end of the war. Therefore, though "a definite - : arrangement is_ being considered hy the Imperial Government,. a conference after peace has been declared might be more likely to prove acceptable. •AU aspects of Imperial-relations arc /hcing actively discussed by the newspapers and at the ..political clubs.