THE DOMINIONS AS PARTNERS.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15338, 23 July 1915, Page 7

THE DOMINIONS AS PARTNERS.

MINISTERS IN THE IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT'S CONFIDENCE. LONDON, July 21. In the House o f Commons, M r Steel. Maitland, Under-Secretary for the Colonies, said it was intended to take rcspons-iblo Ministers in tho colonies into the Imperial Government's confidence on every matter during the war aud at die end in the peace settlement. That was tho reason why Sir Robert Borden had been present at a recent Cabinet meeting.. That was not an isolated phenomenon, but part °* tflo general trend of events. (Received July 22nd, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 22. The ''Morning Post," commenting on M T Bonar Law's statement, says. — "Tho fighting in the outer Empire has been largely done by tho self-govern-ing peoples. When the settlement come.?, it is right that they should bo consulted. This will be best effected > by an Imperial Conferervco while tho war is proceeding. We trust tho Government will reverse the decision against this. Mr Bonar Law will not be deterred by the conventional excuses of permanent officials who want to save themselves trouble, Sinco Mr Chamberlain left the Colonial Office it has fallen out of touch with colonial sentiment and played the usual role of wet blanket with depressing assiduity. Wo have not much faith in a crandkwo scheme for a Parliament for the wholo Empire, but the Dominions and the Mother Country might discuss the foundations of irues •union in the way of common trade, a unjon designed to keep Germany out of the British Empire." The "Morning Post" also recommends to Mr Bonar Law's attention schemes whereby the Dominions would absorb sonio of England's fighting men after tho war.