THE EMPIRE.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18675, 26 April 1926, Page 3

THE EMPIRE.

COMING CONFERENCE. matters for discussion. (MOM OL'E OWH COSBESfOKDEXT.) LONDON, February 24. Both "The English Review" and "The National Review" make reference to the Imperial Conference which is likely to take place this year. The latter journal considers that a Conference in one of the Dominions would be far more serviceable to the Empire than one held in London. V Mr rilt;G and Mr Ooutes," says "Hie English Review," "are in the happy position of being so firmly in the saddle that they should have no difficulty in leaving their Governments to look after themselves for a few months. There can be 110 two opinions as to the need for periodical and personal consultation between the Prime Ministers of the Empire. At the same time the British Government owes it to the Dominions and to themselves to make an early and a definite statement as to the actual nature of the work that is contemplated for the suggested conference. There are hints about a discussion on Locarno particularly so far as its implications for the Dominions are concerned. But is such a discussion desirable or even necessary? Without a shadow of doubt every Dominion is heart and soul behind the spirit of the Treaty. It is, however, equally certain that in more than one quarter there is a fixed determination to cling to the right of participation in the Treatymaking powers of the Empire—a fact that is freely recognised in tho ninth article of the Treaty itself. It would be a thousand pities if a lively controversy over the machinery of signature and ratification gave the rest of the "world the false impression that the Empire was divided as to actual policy. Apart from Locarno, nothing definite has so far been indicated as demanding tho summoning of a conference a full year before its normal date. No doubt there arc the most excellent reasons, and it is to bo hoped that the Government will announce them openly as soon as possible. Otherwise they ■will give the opposition parties in the Dominion Parliaments the chance of flinging the old taunt of 'joy ride' across the House. It must always be remembered that the Prime Ministers of the distant Dominions cannot afford to come Home whenever they aro called, and if (for the sake of argument) a real emergency were to arise in June, 3927, it would bo disastrous if the summoning of an urgent conference were prejudiced by the fact that Mr Coates, for instance, had travelled 12,000 miles to a conference of polite conversations and pious resolutions in October, 1926." Visits to Dominions. "It was positively stated in demisemi official journals," says "The National Review," the autumn of 1925 would find the Imperial Prime Minister in Canada during part of the recess, whilo Mr Amery, the Colonial Secretary, was publicly booked for a tour in Australia and New Zealand. Many of us 'welcomed these announcements, as during the years succee ling the war the Homo Government has grown increasingly out of touch with tho Dominions, and the Dominions in consequence, and correspondingly, out of touch with the policy of the Imperial Government. This unhappy detachment culminated at Locarno last October, when the British Foreign Minister only purported to represent Great- Britain, specifically reserving the right of the Dominions to take or leave the Pact he had 'initialled.' " Imperial Tour. "The neetf for Imperial consultation is clearly more urgent than ever, and an Imperial tour by Imperial Ministers in connexion with an Imperial Conference—to be held in one of the Dominion capitals —would be far more serviceable to the Empire than any Imperial Conference in London, asalthough his Majesty's present Ministers are collectively, and individual y professing Imperialists, who would "keenly resent being labelled Little Englanders,' comparatively few ot them'have, we believe, set eyes _on any considerable extent of tho Empire, .and they would be far more effective advocates of such a policy as Buy British Goods' if they saw tho actual places these came from and the actual poop o making them. We still hope that Mr Amery—who retains his zeal as a missionary of Empire after another year of office—may ultimately persuade the Prime Minister and other colleagues to accompany him to Canada, South Africa, Australia,' New Zealand, and Newfound - "it looks, however, as though events were shaping toward another Imperial Conference in London in the autumn This is, of course, better than no conference at all, but less useful than one overseas, though we recognise I that the choice of venue might be none too easy.'' ,