PROBLEMS OF PEACE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 181, 27 April 1921, Page 6

PROBLEMS OF PEACE

IMPERIAL CO-OPERATION ESSENTIAL WORK OF FORTHCOMING CONFERENCE

By Telegraph—Preus Association-Copyright. London, Apa-il 25. Mr. Winston Churchill (Secretary of State for the Colonies) was tho chief guest at the Australian and New Zealand Club’s Anzac Day luncheon in the Connaught Booms. Sir James Mills presided. Tho assembly included Sir James Allen, tho Agents-General for Australian States, Lord Decies, Sir Henry Galway, General Sir Alexander Godley, General Sir lan. Hamilton, Sir Arthur Stanley, Sir Newton Moore, and Sir Ross Smith. The guests for a moment stood in silence to the memory of the Anzacs. In toasting Mr. Churchill's health, Sir James Mills said he was of the opinion that the Dominions would find him an equally able and sympathetic friend as his predecessors had been. He was taking up his new duties in an eventful period, when the Dominions were in process of altering their status, now claiming to lie sister nations under one King

and flag, prepared to bear a fair share of the defence of the Empire trade, but remaining at the same time free to pursue their own destinies. Mr. Churchill, in replying, said that this was an important year in tho Empire’s life, owing to the first peace time meeting of the Imperial Conference, which would have to try, firstly, to find a way out of tho confusion and chaos due to war back to prosperity, and to study the protection and security of the Empire from military danger. We must carry on the sense of co-operation which grew up during the wax- to tho .problems of peace. He did not propose to attempt to anticipate the course of the discussions, but he had already furnished the visiting Premiers with the fullest information on the subjects, and had sought suggestions upon them. They had unitedly faced problems in tho Empire’s most perilous times, thei-efore .he was confident they would find a solution of peace time problems. (Cheers.) Gallipoli Venture Justified. This was only one Anzac celebration of a series which would continue as long as the Empire endured, as long as Australia and New Zealand were homes of tho free, warlike races of British stock. (Cheers.) There is sorrow as well as pride in the celebrations, but the sorrow will be gradually eclipsed by the | glory which will continue a permanent example and inspiration to the British race. (Cheers.) The Anzacs had a justifiable pride in their own deeds; nevertheless, it was accompanied by a pride in the Twenty-ninth Division’s valour. (Cheers.) He justified the Gallipoli venture on the ground that it hastened Italy’s and delayed Bulgaria’s entrance into the war, mid laid the foundation of the subsequent successes in Palestine and Mesopotamia. The time had not yet arrived to pass final judgment on the Dardanelles controversies, but opinion was moving irresistibly Vo tbo conclusion -that the overthrow of the Turks and the rallying of the Balkans was the only decisive step open to the Allies in 1915. “I await calmly,” said Mr. Churchill,, "the final justification of the policy.” In conclusion, ho affirmed his intention to labour to his utmost to advance the Dominions’ interests and facilitate interImperial trade, and: in carrying on the work of his predecessors in the most sympathetic manner.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

DOMINIONS’ INTERNATIONAL STATUS

CO-ORDINATION OF IMPERIAL FOREIGN POLICY. (Rec. April 2G, 9.5 p.m.) London, April 26.

Dr. Berriedalo Keith, writing on Imperial relations, states that the Fence Conference’s recognition of the international status of tho Dominions and the formation of the. League of Nations accelerated in an unprecedented manner the process of development of Imperial relations, compelling the Dominions to assume a status for which they were not fully prepared. This is most conclusively evinced by the unwillingness of any of the Dominions, even Australia, to face the burden of a just share in tho cost of naval defence. Years must elapse before the United Kingdom can expect anv serious aid in this direction, except possibly from Australia. The immediate problem before the coming Imperial Conference is to devise some reasonable and effective way of coordinating the Tmneriel foreign policy. The Dominions’ statesmen must realise that international status implies that foreign politics must now occupy their serious attention from a broader point of view than mere Dominions’ interests, but the process will'be gradual, ns it must be the outcome of spontaneous evolution m the public feeling of the Dominions. Aus.-N.Z. Cable . Assn.