THE FUTURE OF THE EMPIRE

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1261, 17 October 1911, Page 5

THE FUTURE OF THE EMPIRE

SPEECH BY LORD DUDLEY. Uy Tclceraph-Prcss Association-OoDjrizbt London, October 15. Lord Dudley, ex-Goveruor-Genoral of Australia, and Lady Dudley, were welcomed home at Kidderminster, Worcestershire. Lord Dudley, in a speech in reply, declared that there was a great and growing feeling in Australia that Australians should be partners in tho Councils of Empire. They desired to be regarded as a distinct branch of tho British race, enjoying largely all the privileges of national life and qualified to bo considered important and responsible in tho federacj- of self-governing stales under the aogis of tho Crown. "We arc," continued Lord Dudley, "reaching a critical stage in Imporial history, and any attempt to check the national development of tho Dominions or to deal captiously or carpingly would alienate our oversea kinsmen. We must allow them to develop on their own lines; jwe must use patience and take them into our confidence. Imperial consolidation will bo enormously difficult and complex, because tho standpoints of Britain's Dominions are varied; but an interchange of views on all Imperial problems would enable arrival at mutual understanding." Lord Dudley added: "Th«> Empire's existence as a lirst-class Power depends upon our success in binding all parts together."