FOREIGN POLICY

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 57, 8 March 1923, Page 7

FOREIGN POLICY

CANADA AND THE FAMOUS

"INVITATION"

A PREDICTION AND A REFUTATION.

(FROM OUR OWK CORRESPONDENT.)

LONDON, 26th January. The editor qf the "Western Mail," published in Cardiff, has taken the trouble to forward advance proofs of two articles which by this time- will have been published in that journal. The subject dealt with is the now famous invitation to the Dominions to send contingents in the <jv<jtit, of trouble with the Turks. In a leading article "The Mail" maintains that the Imperial Government was at fault in issuing the_ appeal, and that the Canadian Ministry "intends to demand a more definite undeistandine regarding its relations with the Mother Country, and its responsibilities in. matters of foreign policy." Everyone, it is added, will sympathise with sucli a demand. If the matter is "taken up by the other Dominions, as it very well may be, a crisis of the highest importance may develop in our inter-Imperial relations. "We understand it. is the Canadian Government's intention to demand a more definite understanding regarding their relations with the Mother Country and their responsibilities, in matters of foreign policy. Everyone must sympathise with this demand. It would be impossible for an Empire so largely based on ties of sentiment to continue at peace with itself if that sentiment were often subjected to the strain and surprisß of appeals such as that issued by the Government in September last. On the other hand, it would be a matter for profound .and universal regret if. anything even remotely resembling imperial discontent were to follow the Coalition Government's blunder. It is desirable, therefore, that the Prime Minister should take the earliest opportunity of reassuring Canada and the other Dominions, and making it perfectly clear that mistakes of such a grave character are not likely to be committed again."

Another article is chiefly important for the character and size of its doublecolumn headings—"A British Dominions Crisio," "Imperial Responsibilities in Foreign Affairs," "Startling 'Invitation' Recalled," "Canda Demands- a Definite Understanding." These would at least seem to imply that the Empire was in imminent peril of immediate disintegration. Briefly it is a form of journalism that rings false, and can do no good to anyone. Obviously, it is an attempt, on the part of those responsible for it, to gain a notoriety beyond the borders of their own province. SITUATION EXPLAINED. Thrit the substance of these articles was cabled to Canada itself is evident, for "The Times" correspondent, writing from Toronto, now refutes the suggestion that anything approaching a. crisis is about to take place. "Dispatches from England," he telegraphs, "indicata that some extreme or revolutionary action is expected to be taken at Ottawa, in recard to the appeal of the Imperial Government for the assistance of the Dominions during the Near East crisis. There is no reason to believe that the Canadian Government has any intention of making a definite protest or of taking any action which would imply serious censure of the Imperial Government. Doubtless the Prime Minister and his colleagues .were irritated by the attacks of their political opponents upon their failure to respond instantly to the Imperial Government's invitation, and also by the fact that the message from the British Government was published in the Canadian newspapers before it was received by the Canadian Government:' But practically all _ the attacks ceased long pgo, and it is generally recognised that the Canadian Government acted with prudence and discretion in contrast . with what is considered the rash and precipitate conduct of certain Imperial Ministers. "Tho extreme autonomists may raise the question in Parliament, and if so the Government will be obliged to state its position, but there is season to believe that the position of the Canadian Government differs in no essential from.the conception of the Imperial relation entertained by Mr. Bonar Law, the Duke of Devonshire^ and their colleagues. In speeohes during the Lanark by-election and elsewhere. Mr. King never hesitated to declare that in any crisis in the fortunes of the Empire, Canada would stand beside the Mother Country, and there is no sround for the apparent suspicion in some quarters that Canada under Mr. King's Government is restless in regard to the Imperial relation or particularly eager for some new definition of its constitutional position in the Empire.'"