The Dominion THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1924 FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN THE EMPIRE

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 191, 8 May 1924, Page 6

The Dominion THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1924 FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN THE EMPIRE

• When he was last in England, Mr. Massey was token to task by some British newspapers which support'free trade for allegedly taking a partisan part in a British election campaign. What these newspapers apparently failed to perceive is that there are occasions on which Imperial issues are not merely intermingled with, but transcend. domestic issues in British politics. This plainly was the case at the time of the last British election. The party contest in Britain turned largely on the fiscal issue, but preference, is an Imperial issue. With that simple fact in mind it evidently becomes quite ridiculous to suggest that the responsible representative of any Dominion is not entitled to express the views of bis countrymen on preference, or other Imperial issues, in Britain or anywhere else, whenever he pleases. Obviously it would be absurd "to contend that where an Imperial question overlaps one of domestic policy, it must not be discussed in its Imperial aspect when or where the discussion would embarrass those to whom the question is of immediate moment as a domestic issue. In the nature of things the greater question, and the larger aspect of affairs, must take precedence. « No doubt the trend and outcome of any election held in Britain until the question of Imperial preference is finally settled will be influenced in a more or less important degree by a free expression of the views and opinions held in the oversea Dominions. Conditions have been reached in which the Dominions could only observe a complete abstention from interference in British domestic affairs by allowing themselves to be gagged on questions of supreme importance to the whole Empire. At present both our own Prime Minister and the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth (Mr. Bruce) are taking every opportunity of urging the claims of Imperial preference, and strong protests against the abandonment by the present British Government of the preference resolutions passed by the Empire Economic Conference have been uttered also in Canada and South Africa. The position at the moment is that in this matter the opinion of a majority of people in all the Dominions is arrayed against the policy of the British Government of the day. The fact that the Government in question happens to be a Labour Government lias nothing, at all to do with bringing about this state of affairs. The whole point is that the weight of opinion in the Dominions holds that the present British Government is laying down a trade policy which is detrimental to the Empire. That such a position has arisen is perhaps to be regretted, but there is no obvious remedy. The Dominions are advocating preference from the broadest standpoint, not merely as something that is in their own interests and those of Great Britain, but as something that is indispensable to the Empire as a whole. A policy measure like preference which is capable of being turned to account in fostering the trade of the Empire and forwarding its development and occupation affects larger interests than those of any partner-country of the Empire. Preference has its highest claims to consideration as one means of building up an Empire in which all sections of the British nation will be able to establish nobler standards of national life and endeavour. If, in these circumstances, the unhampered discussion of preference and other Imperial issues involves some incidental trampling on British political toes, the fact may be regretted, but cannot be helped. The position must be faced as it is inevitably developing. Far as the Dominions are from desiring to interfere in British domestic politics, there is no doubt that any British party which champions a, constructive policy of Imperial co-operation in trade and other affairs will be strengthened by the backing of opinion in the Dominions. Conversely, any British party which adopts an opposite, policy will be prejudiced by the disapproval of that policy which will be expressed freely in the Dominions. Whatever may be thought of its occasional . local effects, this state of affairs evidently is open to no valid objection in a commonwealth of nations in which each partner has an indefeasible and unqualified right to discuss affairs of mutual concern.