EMPIRE'S CONSTITUTION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 229, 22 June 1920, Page 5

EMPIRE'S CONSTITUTION

CONSULTATION BETWEEN COMPONENT PARTS

CLOSER TOUCH ESSENTIAL

IMPORTANCE OF NEXT CONFERENCE

(By Telegraph-Press Association--'"- -rlffht London, Ju.u- 18. Lord Milner, continuing his reply in the House of Lords to Lord Charnwood regarding the machinery to ensure the continuous consultation of the different parts of the Empire, said: "We have frankly accepted the Dominions as partner nations of equal status, though by common consent wo might hold the position of leadership as head of the family." It was supremely important to the Empire and the wonld that the self-govern-ing Dominions and the United Kingdom should continuo to pursue a common policy on all great questions and international affairs; that in councils cf the world the Empire could speak with a single voice; but if that wore to be accomplished under present constitutional conditions it would only be because the self-governing nations agreed upon the particular policy. Will of the Majority,

There was no power in.Hie Constitution to impose the will of tho majority upon a dissentient if they failed to agree that common action was impossible. Fortunately, in the great test of experience —namely, our war policy— <i\\ had continuously, agreed both about the policy as a whole and about every important charter. It would be too sanguine to presumo that they could always count on being equally fortunate, and they must recognise that circumstances might arise, even in great international crises, in which the action of the Empire could bo paralysed or greatly weakened, owing to the failure of agreement between adl the Dominions. That would be a disaster, but it was only likely to occur if they lest during peace time tho close touch established in wartime. He did not believe that on any of the greatest of the world questions different views would be taken by different parts of the Empire, as 'long .as they remained in intimate touch with one another, and were able to consult before crises arose. It was of vital importance to maintain a continuous knowledge on the part of the self-governing Dominions of the poJicy which any cine was pursuing, and chiefly of that which the United Kingdom was pursuing in regard to foreign policy.

Methods of Consultation, Dealing with the existing methods of consultation, Lord Milner said the Imperial Conference was gathering greater influence. Its resolutions had considerable effect on the conduct of affairs in tho- different countries represented, and a good deal of meet useful work in pullifig the Empire together had been tho result of those occasional meetings. They must regard the Conference as a regular and permanent organ of the Empire Constitution, because it had a permanent secretariat to pursue tho various questions and collect material for future conferences, and by comrminicating with the various Governments to seo if the resolutions woro canned out. Although it was a. most, valuable instrument it was, owing to the long interval between the conferences, very far from ensuring that the strength of the Empire was continuously, brought to bear upon tho direction of affairs of the world in tho way in which the powers of any unified Government could bo exercised. The erucstion arose whether they should not dovise menus of making the influence of the Empire as a whole, as distinct from tho United Kingdom, continuously effective in the oounoils of the world. This was temporarily. achieved in wartime, and the peace negotiations through tho Imperial War Cabinet and the British Empire Do'cgation. The Imperial War Cabinet was as complete an Executive of the wholo Kmpiro as could possiblv bo conceived, but it was bound to fall in abeyance at the end of tlio war, if only because- tho Premiere of the Dominions could not continue to remain. Preservation of Harmony. Ho was absolutely convinced that something .more was necessary than we got in tho Constitution of tho Empire if tho splendid harmony existing in war-time was not to bo frittered away in peacetime, and if wo wero not to separato from ono another, going different roads even without knowing it. He was ccnvinced that they would be able to hold together in alt matters of world importance only if they kept a closer touch than was possible to do merely by means of Imperial Conferences held every four or five years. Something which brought the peoples of the different self-govern-ing States of the Empire in. constant close touch was essential if the Empire was to play the great role it ought to play in the world. Something of this kind was in the minds of statesmen, not here, but in all the self-governing countries. He agreed that tho success of tho League of Nations depended above nil on the British nation, whioh was a leaguo already, able to speak with one Wee. He believed that, if they did, they wcukl hardly ever differ on matters of supremo importance with the United States. Then the two great Anglo-Saxon Powers could make the League a success, and seciiro the peace of the world; Next Year's Conference. The Imperial Government was being 6trong{y pressed by all Dominions to hold an Imperial Conference as soon as possible. It had been hoped that a meeting would be held in 1920, but all agreed than it must bo postponed till 1921. If it was to be a success, and put futuro constitutional relations of the Empire on a good footing, it must be n meeting of practical Prime Ministers, though not exclnsiveiy sd It should not be confused with the periodical Imperial Conference; it was distinct therefrom in that it would bo in tho nature of a Constitutional Assembly, whioh would try" to arrive at a basis upon which Great Brltain'6 relations with tho Dominions in the futuro should bo '.onducted. It wciuld be a ineeting of extraordinary importance, "but, pending its constitution, it 'was not desirable to put forward any particular scheme of action. Ho hoped it woui'.d not separate without providing the Empire with some organisation of Government based on the recognition of the complete independence and equality of its different parts.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.