THORNY PROBLEMS

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 108, 3 November 1926, Page 8

THORNY PROBLEMS

LAWYERS AT WORK

IMPERIAL RELATIONS

DIFFICULTY OVER TREATIES,. 1

(United Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received 3rd November, is p.m.) LONDON, 2nd November. Some of the more thorny problems! of inter-Imperial relations gave . the legal section of the Earl of Balfour'■ sub-committee at the Imperial Conference two hours' close work in the afternoon in an endeavour to findl&pmmon ground whereon the difficulties arising out of Locarno will not: recur, and accommodating the vie-wpoints expressed, notably by South Africa, in amicable debates which proceeded in to-day's closer survey of the problems. It is understood that the main difficulty encountered is to get around treaty technicalities in such a way as to ensure the Dominions' acceptance^ after Britain, of a negotiated treaty in full consultation with them. To-day's discussion was not conclusive, but-, is described as most valuable in producing mutual appreciation of one another's difficulties. From 4.30 p.m. to 7.15 p.m. the Prime Ministers sat at the round table discussing the general aspects of inter-Imper-ial affairs. A good deal of time was devoted to Privy Council procedure..lt is understood that the question of the Dominions' representation thereon was also mentioned, though the range of Imperial subjects brought up was of the widest. - : ;.,.. The Australian Press Association understands that no mention was made of the.rights and the prerogative of Governor-Generals. Having got • the man of ber choice in succession to Lord Byng, Canada seems to have recovered from her pre-election tenderness, and Ireland, which a month ago talked of the right of direct approach to Downing Street, is understood to. have decide! that the mere formality of submitting dispatches through- Mr. Hcaly (Gover-nor-General of the Irish Free State) i« not sufficient ground for raising the whole question of Crown representation. As one Free Stater put it; "The *is are dotted; the 't's' crossed. We 'say, what we want to say;-and it gets-to 'No. 10 in diie'time, so really it is not worth any fuss/" Echoes from the Conference rooms suggest- that- Mr. Mackenzie King, Prime Minister of Canada^ is not-liv-ing up to prophecies made before-his arrival that he would ■ -'be' one.of 'l the most outspoken critics of the existing, order of things, nor is Ireland magnifying the difficulties. "'.'.. '""