DIGNITY OF CANADA.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 136, 10 June 1924, Page 5

DIGNITY OF CANADA.

■ 1 . LAUSANNE TREATY AFFAIR. THE EMPIRE INDIVISIBLE. POWER OF ITS MEMBERS. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright! (Received l-.noo_.jt. OTTAWA, June 9. The Dominion Government never questioned the fact that when the Lausanne Treaty was ratified it was binding on Canada, declared trie Premier (Mr. -Mackenzie King), in the Canadian House of Commons. The action of King George in ratifying the treaty bound the Britsh Empire, but the extent of Canada's obligation in regard to maintaining the treaty was a matter for the Dominion Parliament to decide, the Premier said. The Premier resented the charge that he had been silent in the Imperial Conference on the subject of the Lausanne Treaty. It is on record that he stated it might not be possible for the Canadian Government to express formal concurrence in the treaty, and he had recently cabled to Mr. Ramsay MacDonald (Prime Minister) drawing his attention to the minutes of the Imperial Conference. Canada would dwindle to colonial status of he Dominion Government accepted the view that the Dominion could be bound by any action which a Minister in London took at a conference unattended by a Canadian representative. Out of the war had risen a doctrine of fuller equality of status among the various parts of the British Empire. The reason the Government did not bring down the treaty for approval in the House was because the Government did not believe Parliament would approve it. The Government required to take the responsibility for submitting to Parliament what it thought should be submitted and for withholding what should I be withheld, concluded Mr. Mackenzie King.—(A. and S.Z. Cable.)