WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1937. NEUTRAL IN WAR-TIME?

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 46, 24 February 1937, Page 6

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1937. NEUTRAL IN WAR-TIME?

Could a Dominion declare itself neutral if (Britain went to war* In Australia and New Zealand that question may seem one of academic interest, but in some other Dominions it is not. and in late years it has been earnestly considered by students of Imperial affairs pud international law. Now, according 1 to a London message published to-day, there is expectation that the possibility of Dominion neutrality will be the foremost topic at the Imperial Conference in May. It is, of course, intimately connected with the problems of Imperial defence, and if there should be revealed at the Conference a determination by one or more Dominions, in special circumstances, or even in any, to declare neutrality, defence plans would require a considerable revision. '"The right of the Dominions to decide regarding neutrality," says the Ixmdon message, "is fully recognised here." On the contrary, Professor A. Berriedal® Keith, after citing examples of the distinct character of the British Dominions internationally, says "the time has not yet come when the right of a Dominion to insist on having its own way" on the issue of peaee or war "has been conceded." Further, "to declare war or make peace or assert neutrality separately would

[virtually be an act of secession." Bnt, it can be replied, if a Dominion were determined on neutrality, it would brush aside theoretical objections. What then would be its position? The answer, surely, is that its neutrality could have no value unless it were recognised and respected. Such recognition, with all that it involves, would not be granted by the Power against which Britain and the other Dominions were warring, unless it suited that Power's purposes. In the latter condition, the Dominion concerned might have difficulty in convincing Britain that it was in fact neutral I and not passively assisting the Empire's enemy. These are contingencies unpleasant to contemplate, and there can be no doubt that the Imperial Conference will determinedly attempt to render them impossible of occurrence. The way to avert all possibility of Dominion neutrality in time of war is to secure such unanimity of agreement on foreign policy as to make it certain that if Britain were compelled to declare war she would have the prior assent and full support of all the Dominions. In other words, any cause for which Britain felt obliged to resort to war must be, and must be unanimously recognised as, a cause eommon to the interests not only of the Mother Country, but of the whole Commonwealth. For the securing of such agreement and understanding there will be required the highest qualities of statesmanship, based on acceptance of the roek-bottom truth that membership of the British Commonwealth is preferable to any other status, and that membership implies obligations as well as privileges.