BRITAIN AND THE COLONIES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 239, 2 July 1908, Page 6

BRITAIN AND THE COLONIES.

When a responsible British statesman delivers a speech upon tho relations between Great Britain, and tho oversea dependencies of the Empire, we always scan his observations with some :anxiety and eagerness, for two reasons. In tho first place, one Imperialist speech is much like another—how could it be otherwise when the field has for years been exploited by thousands of seekers after truth?—and a speck of pure gold in the shape of an illuminating truth is as rare as it is precious. In the second place, we always desire (to know whether, the, speaker is proceeding on tho assumption that the Empire is healthy, or whether his anxiety is for the rescue of an unstablo congerie of jealous and fretful provinces. Two years ago ,'the speeches and writings of British publicists were as often as not proscriptions for the sick. Since then an agreeable change has come over tho controversy, and, however widely opinions may differ upon the best means of rearranging the relations between Great Britain and the Dominions, there is agi cement upon the-serene health of the Imperial family. Loud Ckewe's speech at the farewell dinner to Lord Dudley, reported-yesterday, is an excellent example of the improved attitude of British statesmen and of that wholesome and dignified conception of the Imperial faith that is its own preservative. He would never, he said, " allow the motives of Australian statesmen to be -misinterpreted if ho could help it," and his subsequent observations warrant us in believing that it is not simply a blindly generous trust in Australasian virtue, but a good working acquaintance with Australasian aspirations, that will guide the Secretary's championship of the Commonwealth. Ho appears to understand also, while not being anxious over, tho friction between the States and the Federal Government. To us in New Zealand tho quarrels of the States have never quite appeared to be the prancings of a restive and high-spirited team, ■ but rather tho sour wranglings of bad-tempered politicians. But tho Secretary's generous image may assist to heal the smartings. One might have cxpcctcd him to let fall his idea ,of the future structure of tho. ■Empire. The opportunity was a fit one. It is perhaps as well that he abstained. It is far too early to talk of any-vital change in the existing structure of Empire government, and in any case tho Empire will take its coursc without reference to tho plans and specifications of the innumerable patent Empires now on the market. No two men understand tho Imperial:idea quite alike, but one common faith guides all Imperialists. This was strikingly demonstrated the other day when a Halifax Judge was severely censurcd for a prophccy that seemed to affront the loyalty and fidelity of Canadian Imperialists. The mail brings full reports of this curious incident, which was reported by cable at the time. It was at a Canadian Club banquet in New York that Judge Lonoley uttered his prophecy. His words arc thus reported : " I do Dot think thflt Canuck will ahvayß remain a colour, Qw relfttioua are eo

agreeable that there is.no tendency towards I anything but the best feeling between the Mother Country and her eldest daughter, liven now we have all tbo rights'of a free and independent country, even in matters relating to foreign affairs. Hut there comes a time when a nation develops such power that it no longer desires to be a . colony. When that time conies there will follow a mutual readjustment, and Canada will assume its then natural relationship with the Mother Country, instead of a dependency there will bo an alliance, and I feel assured that Canada will aid the Mother Country in her efforts to spread liberty and AngloSaxon institutions throughout the world. There will lie no thought of union with the United States. It might be to our political interests, but would bo foreign to our ideals, for wo could not then take our place among the nations of the world." Though perhaps hardly appropriate to the occasion, these observations seem harmless enough, and certainly not deserving of the rebuke that they drew from the British Ambassador. Judge Long-ley does not appear to have suggested anything in the nature of a violent or hurtful snapping of the bonds of union. Theoretically, his conception of an Empire of allied independent states is as scund as Mr. Chamberlain's idea of a tariffite Empire in the nature of a commercial firm. The significance of the disapproval, that the Judge's speech excited in Canada lies in its evidence of a jealous Imperial faith, that will not brook even the, mention of any creed that does not make union its first article. The Empire,; as Lord Dudley has it, " must be a great co-partnership," based on "a constant recognition of the necessity of mutual concession." That recognition of the conditions of Imperial existence is menaced from only one quarter. imperfect British understanding of the colonial viewpoint is annoying, but it is a defect that time will cure. The danger is that colonial statesmen, by an incautious insistence and provocativeness in asserting colonial rights, may play! into the hands of some British political party, which may so use " the colonial view "—in fiscal matters it is " the colonial offer "—as to breed in the British people a dislike and suspicion of their oversea kinsmen.