COMMON AIMS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 137, 7 December 1926, Page 15

COMMON AIMS

ENGLAND AND DOMINIONS

CONSIDERED EQUAL NATIONS

THE EMPIEE'S NEW UNITY

Decisions arrived at after consultation by the Dominion Prime Ministers at the Imperial Conference will make several momentous alterations in the relationship between Britain and the overseas Dominions. One of the great changes is in regard to the King's title, from which the words "of the United Kingdom" have been eliminated. Another momentous decision is that the Governor-Gen-eral will act in the Dominions as the direct representative of the King only. Three Dominio2is, with their newly defined status, are nowadmitted to be each "the master of its own destinies," with power to make treaties and to accept or reject treaties th-^- may be proposed or arranged by other nations in the British. Commonwealth. The London correspondent of the Sydney "Sun" states that there is intense satisfaction among the delegates and in political circles in Great Britain that the problem of inter-Imperial relations has been solved with such perfect unanimity. '

It is not an exaggeration to say that the Imperial Conference of 1923 was not encouraging in its results, and it ended in confusion of mind, in a chill of soiil, and in paralysis of /purpose. Sometimes it aoemed that subsequently the British Empire might become a verbal fiction like the Holy Koman Empire. It appeared possible that the 1926 Conference might do more harm than, good,: owing .to the fear that Canada, South. Africa, and the Irish Free State Might assert disintegrating

influences,

Nevertheless, the Conference has been historic. It has proved the value of personal meetings in dissipating prejudice andproviding unexpected agreement in many directions, giving new moral life to the Imperial idea, strengthening the wish for mutual understanding and co-operation, and throwing a broad light on every practical problem. The report of the Committee on In-ter-Imperial Belations shows the highest common measui-o of Imperial agreement, and removes every misunderstanding regarding foreign policy. The overseas Prime Ministers can now go homeward with satisfaction, shared by their peoples, that their labours have produced a definite achievement. There is a clarity of wording about the report which surprises those who were tackling the problem and appealing to tha constitutional lawyers for acceptable formulas. It is pointed out in the report that a constitution for the Empire as a whole is not laid down, because the Dominions are autonomous communities of equal status, and not subordinate one -to another, although they are united in their common allegiance to tho Crown.

THE KING'S NEW TITLE.

The committee recommends a change in the title of His Majesty the King to "George the Kfth,. by the. Grace of God of Great Britain, Ireland, the British Dominions beyond the seas, King, Defender of .the Faith, Emperor of India."

The committee considers it unconstitutional for advice to be tendered to His Majesty by the British Government appertaining to a Dominion 's affairs against that Dominion's views. Appropriate legislation applicable to the Dominions would only be passed with the Dominion's consent.

"Every self-governing member of the llmpire is-how master of its destinies, subject to no compulsion whatever," adds the report. "Though every Dominion is the solo judge of the extent of its co-operation, no common cause would thereby be imperilled. The equality of status of Britain aud the Dominions is therefore the root "principle governing inter-Imperial relations, but flexible machinery is required to deal with questions of diplomacy and defence. The new title for the King, which omits 'of the United Kingdom,' ia made owing to the altered state of affairs following the Free State's etsablishment as a Dominion. ''

The Committee considers that, in consequence of the equality of Dominion status, the Governor-General is the representative of the Crown, holding the same position regarding the Dominions as the King holds in Great Britain. He is not a representative of the British Government, and therefore the future official -channel for communications should be between the British Government and the Dominion Government direct, the Governor-General being kept fully informed, as the King is, of Cabinet business in Britain.

Various points necessitating clarification in connection with Dominion legislation, particularly regarding laws submitted for His Majesty's pleasure, and regarding the difference of legislative competence between the Imperial and Dominion Parliaments, were considered, but left for expert guidance. The right of each Dominion to advise the Crown regarding its own affairs is recognised.

The Committee recommends that Britain and the Dominions should constitute an Advisory Committee dealing with the Crown's assent to legislation, the extra-territorial'operations of Dominions' legislation, and any change in the Colonial Laws Validity Act.

In view of the. existing inter-Imper-ial relations it was decided to remit merchant shipping legislation to a special sub-conference.

Any changes relating to Privy Council appeals will lie made effective only after consultation.

TREATY OBLIGATIONS,

Regarding treaties, any Government must obtain other Governments' assent before involving them in active obligations. "Where all Governments of the Empire are asked to ratify a treaty, the initiating Government may assume that every Government which, having full opportunity of indicating its attitude, had not commented adversely concurs in ratification.

The method of using in the pre-amble-to League of Nations' treaties the term "British Empire" tends to obscurity and misunderstanding. Therefor all treaties, whether under the auspices of the League or not, are to be made in the name of the heads of States. If the treaty is sigued on behalf of any or all Empire Governments it should be made in the name of the King as a symbol of the special relationship between the different partf of the Empire.

Since the Governor-General no longer represents the British Government in any Dominion, the members of the Conference desire development of the systoin of; personal contact in London and in,'the Dominion capitals, supplouiceting tho present system of intercommunication. Details.of this change, says the Committee, should be settled between the Imperial and Dominion Governments, any new arrangements supplementing, not replacing, the pro sent 'system of direct communication between the Governments.

Although no resolution was submit-

ted regarding compulsory arbitration in international disputes, it was agreed that no Government represented at the Conference would accept the compulsory jurisdiction of a permanent Court of International Justice without further discussion.

The results of the Locarno Treaty were explained and discussed, and the Conference congratulated tho Britisli Government on its share in this successful contribution to promotion of the world's peace.

SOLE PHYSICAL BOND.

The salient fact emerging from the conclusion of the Conference is that His Majesty now is the sole physical bond of union between .Great Britain and tho Dominions.

Time has not permitted anything like a full realisation of the exact meaning of the Inter-Imperial Relations Committee's report, says the political correspondent of the Sydney "Sun." But there is at least one thing unquestionable, namely, that this is one of the most historic documents ever evolved by the makers of an Empire's history. One question that arises is what will the Dominions decide about Britain's representation in the Dominons now that tho Governor-General no longer represents the Government^

EDITOKIAL COMMENT.

Such drastic ".hango&as are suggested have naturally called forth a great deal of comment, and the world's newspapers have devoted a great deal of time to the report.

"The report clearly lays down the complete equality of the Dominions with Britain," says the "Daily Mail," "and should therefore satisfy all their aspirations. The alteration in the King's title will change nothing of importance. Tho Empire is bound together, not by logic, force, or arbitrary compacts, but by allegiance to tho Crown, by common interest, and coimnrn ties which freedom and the enjoyment of constitutional Government impose. .For a generation or more it h.\s been a commonplace that the union of the Empire is a personal one, through the Sovereign, giving the Crown an extraordinary importance and influence, which is, bound, to grow in the years to come."

"It is an adequute and aignificant cxpressioji of a progressive civilisation, keenly alive to its duties and place in the international scheme of things, and thoroughly aware of its own destiny" (says tho "Daily News"). "The Dominions' equal status is fixed beyond doubt in language that apparently will satisfy General Hertzog's mystical theories and the national sensibilities of the new Ireland."

"The Inter-Imperial EelationsTteport is a masterpiece of evasion," states the "Daily Herald" (Labour). "It has produced a few T.:gh-sounding phrases, and has recommended tho elimination of five worils and the insertion of a comma in He Eoyal title, but has avoided with tho greatest skill every real problem arising out of the present anomalous relations between Britain and the Dominions, merely in a tortuous, metaphysical way, saying that equality of status does not mean anything in particular. "

The "Daily News" points out that the Inter-Imperial relations report ■will involve an alteration in the coinage owing to the now obsolete inscription around the King's head.

"The Conference, on the greatest Imperial subject, accomplished practically nothing which sets the seal on the Conference's success" (says the "Daily Express") "because it. is paradoxically true that the more loosely knit the British Empire is, tho move tightly its component parts are bound together."

The New York "World" says: "The theory that Britain possessed a veto over Dominion legislation was no more than a theory, and- it goes to the dump heap."

The "Herald-Tribune" says: "The British Empire will probably go ahead in the old way, untroubled by theories and abstractions, renewing its vitality and tenacity which have given it extraordinary prosperity and tho leadership of the world's greatest States.

Arthur Brisbane, writing his Hearst editorial, says: "The colonies and Britain form an alliance, not an empire, with Britain ruling. But the colonies are now officially equals, and will outgrow and dominate her in time, and old England will become the banking office for Australia, Canada, and South Africa, But the old British mother still lias the brains of trained statesmen, the great tiniversities, and the thinking men. These thing*B mean an empire, whatever you may say officially."