UNITY OF THE EMPIRE

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 270, 11 August 1938, Page 11

UNITY OF THE EMPIRE

Need Of Co-ordination Of Policy

VIEWS OF AUSTRALIAN MINISTER

Frank And Full Exchange Of Ideas

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, August 9.

The Australian Attorney-Gen-eral, Mr. R. G. Menzies, made a statement to-day in which he emphasised the need for a full and constant exchange of ideas as being essential to unity in Empire policy. “The modern relationship between Britain and the self-govern-ing Dominions,” he said, "seems to me to require constant contact, real determination to understand each other's point of view, and recognition of the fact that frank, and full exchange of ideas at the relevant time is essential to the preservation of that unity of ideas and policy which is in my opinion vital to the Empire.

“Having now completely established the substantial independence of the constituent members of the Empire, we should concentrate more and more on the devising not only of machinery but of a point of view which will preserve the essentia] unity of the Imperial structure as a whole.

“I see nothing derogatory to the independence of any Dominion in the proposition that a united British Empire policy must depend upon two elements: first, a Government of Great Britain tain which recognises that on all large matters, particularly of international policy, it is speaking not only for the inhabitants of these islands but for British people all oyer the world, and therefore that it must go as far as possible before arriving at any decision, invite Dominion criticism, and attach propei - weight to the Dominions’ view.

“Secondly, Governments in each of the Dominions which realise that as members of a closely knit family of nations they are responsible not only for handling their own problems and policies but also for an effective contribution toward Empire policy and real Empire security. “In other words, let us all realise that the independence of each of us is to some extent dependent upon the independence of others. Let. us more and more think in terms of British unity and bow we can make it an effective instrument of peace and justice in the world.”