Evening Post. THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 1937. AN IMPERIL OCCASION

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 71, 25 March 1937, Page 10

Evening Post. THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 1937. AN IMPERIL OCCASION

Wellington spoke, as the Capital City for New Zealand when it gave its united good wishes last night to the Prime Minister who will represent the Dominion at the Coronation and the Imperial Conference. Qn such occasion there need be no party distinction and last night there was none. Mr. Savage was received as the citizen chosen to represent all his fellow-countrymen in conveying their congratulations and assurance of loyalty to a King and Queen who are known, loved, and lespected. There is a personal basis for that loyalty and affection in the general lecognition by the community of the intimate concern of the Royal Family for the welfare of all the King's subject's. Of thai concern and the New Zealand Government's acknowledgment of it, we have lecent piooi in the choice of the Children's Health Camps a^ a memoiial to King Geoige V. By making this choice the Government has attested its recognition of the humanity of the late King, and its own desire to advance the public welfare which he always sought. There is, however, a further leason for the expression of united loyalty, which Mr. Savage will cany to the Coionation and the Imperial Conference. In the Crown we have the visible link of the Impelial union— a union the maintenance of which must be the primary object of New Zealand's Empire policy. This, too, has the assent of all the people, without distinction of pail). At one time theie may have been paily differences on this question of the indivisibility of the Empiie, but the events of recent years, the lise of dictatorships, and the threats to world peace ha\c persuaded all thinking people, conseivalive or radical, that they ha\e a common interest in the pieservation of Biitish demociacy. On the methods to be applied foi dcmociatic pieseivation theie may be diffeiences of opinion between the nations of the British Commonwealth and even within the nations. But this docs not piesent any danger of disunion. If the prirnarv object—the mamlen-, ance and leinforcement of unity—be I e\er kept in view nothing but piofiti can come ftom the discussion of varying ways and means to lhat end. This, indeed, is the puipose of the Imperial Conference, that the leaders of the British Commonwealth shall pool their ideas, shall be fully informed of the slate of the Empiie.1 and shall then agree upon the measiiies in which the) ran all co-i operate. In his speech last night Mi Savage spoke mainly in general teims of the views which he ■will lake to the Con-| ference. While we should have I liked to hear his opinions expoundedi in gieater detail, we aie bound to | admit that he was wise to lefrain from more definite expressions of I opinion. In London he will learn more exactly than he can know at | this distance the policies of other membeis of the Commonwealth, and he will have the benefit also ol the study which his colleague, the Minis- j ter of Finance, has been able to make, j The general tenor of Mi. Savage's ideas is known, however, both from his lefeiences last night and ltom| the statements made previously b) I himself and b) his- colleagues and the policies which they have followed. On the four greatest issues these ideas may be briefly stated as follows:— (1) Foieign policy should aim at pacification, with parliculai attention to the reinforcement of the League of Nations, even to the extent of putting an international force behind it: (2) defence should be as«uied by consultation and co-opeiation between the nations of the Commonwealth, but again with emphasis upon the positive pacification which will I render defensive measuic less necessary; (3) trade should be built up by agieemenls upon a basis of increasing buying power: (4) Empire settlement should proceed with the puipose of strengthening the title of the Biilish nations to the tenitoiies held by populating and using them. These objectives of Empiie policy can command, we believe, a very real measure of support in New Zealand, and sympathetic consideration in the councils of the Commonwealth. The differences of opinion that may evince themselves will arise, not from disapproval of the ultimate objeptive, but from diverging views as. to the pace and the precautions of progress towards the goal. We can all honestly seek international appeasement, and we can as honestly differ on the-risks that may be prudently taken for the attainment of that objective. Empire security is a reality, if the whole Commonwealth pursues it, and that security cannot be lightly sacrificed. Similarly, in striving to lay the foundation of a better economic order, for our own nation, for the British Common weal th of Nations, and for the world, we must prudently preserve that which we have, that which has stood the lest of an unprecedented depression, until we can ie sure that the new foundation is equally stable. Above all, we must recognise that the best plans, put into operation without cooperation, will assuredly fail. Advanced and humane ideals cannot serve the public welfare if they provoke discord and lead to a clash of policies. We believe that our representatives at the Imperial Conference will be mindful of this cardinal point. The Government has hitherto been careful to follow the method of consultation pursued by]

its predecessors in matters affecting other units of the Empire. Especially and recently, in negotiations upon Empire shipping and aircraft services, and in the organisation of defence, no step has been taken without full inquiry concerning its probable bearing and effect upon Empire plans. This procedure, we are convinced, will be followed by Mr. Savage at the Imperial Conference and in all his representations on behalf of New Zealand. He may require to slacken the pace of his progress towards the goal of his ideals, perhaps to deviate for a while |rom the path, but he has emphasised the greatness of ihe main task in which New Zealand is now playing its part —the preservation of the democratic system of government. The bulwark of democracy is the British Commonwealth of Nations, and only by the unity of the nations of the Commonwealth can the strength of the bulwark be assured.