The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo. FRIDAY, MAY 14, 1937. IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 113, 14 May 1937, Page 6

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo.

FRIDAY, MAY 14, 1937. IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

For the cause that lacks assistance. For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good thitt me oav do.

First on tho agenda of the Imperial

Conference, which is to be opened to-dfiy in London, is "Foreign affairs and defence. , ' The precedence given it is fully merited, for never, except in war-time, has its importance been so great or the problems arising from it so difficult. At the beginning, no doubt, the Conference will hear an exposition by the Foreign Secretary of the international situation as it is seen to-day by the British Government, and an explanation of the aims of British foreign policy. There will follow a statement by each of the Dominion Prime Ministers of the view taken by his country of the existing situation and o£ British policy. That there is a considerable divergence of opinion is known; the first ta>k <>L' the Conference will be to discover and define the minimum basis of universal agreement. In other words, there must be defined or redefined the ideals which are not only shared by the British peoples, but so dearly prized by all that in pursuit of them, or in defence of them, the United Kingdom and the Dominions will be prepared at all times to present a united front, and in the last resort to light together, lit is a task calling for statesmanship of the (highest quality.

A great many changes, most of them for the worse, have tuken place in the international situation since the Dominions in IQI9 separately signed the Covenant of the League. In all those changes Britain has been closely concerned, either as an Imperial Power or because of her geographical proximity to Europe. The Dominions also have been concerned, but in smaller and varying degrees. It has inevitably happened that British policy has sometimes run ahead, and at other times run away from, the policies, in so far as they have been formulated, of the various Dominions. Objectives which have seemed, and no doubt have been, of urgent importance to Britain, have seemed less urgent, and sometimes less desirable, to the Dominions. Moreover, the British Government's policies have not always been consistent. Britain and the Dominions stood together in supporting sanctions against Italy, but a few months later the British Foreign Secretary, Sir Samuel Hoare, with the support of some of his colleagues, was found endeavouring to conclude an agreement with France to buy off Italy. It can be argued that subsequent events have justified Sir Samuel Hoare, but the point is that the Dominions were not consulted before the British Government changed its policy. The Government, as so often before, was influenced by the exigencies of the European situation. Some way must !be found of ensuring that the Commonwealth will not embark on a venture unless all its members are prepared to "see it through."

But here there enters the question of armed strength. As the senior, and by far the most powerful, partner in the Commonwealth, Britain contributes more than her full share to the creation and maintenance of the armed forces of the Crown. The Dominions may support her in a policy, but they can give her little material support if that should prove necessary. It may therefore seem presumptuous of the Dominions to expect to have a voice in determining the foreign policy of which the armed forces Britain provides are the principal instrument. Nevertheless they have been conceded that right, because it is recognised that it would be disastrous to the Commonwealth if Britain took a major decision which involved the Dominions in policies which they disapproved. The problem of finding a workable solutfon of this puzzle is so great and intricate that the Conference may be unable to give to the other subjects on the agenda the time and attention they deserve.