THE EMPIRE'S PURPOSE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 143, 14 December 1938, Page 9

THE EMPIRE'S PURPOSE

' FORCES FOR CONTINUED UNITY *

DOMINIONS' STRENGTH

(British Official Wireless.) (Received December 14, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, December 13. The Secretary for the Dominions, Mr. Malcolm Mac Donald, speaking at the Constitutional Club, described the visit to be made to Canada by their Majesties as an unprecedented journey, and added that for the first time the reigning King and Queen were to set foot on the soil of one of the great overseas Dominions over which they reigned. He believed that the British Empire today was the greatest practical expression of certain permanent political principles which ought to inspire the devotion and command the services of even the youngest and fhe most idealistic.'^ The main purpose of the British 'Empire was the gradual spreading of liberty amongst his Majesty's subjects, on whatever part of the ehrth they lived. The most significant part of the Empire today was that part called the British Commonwealth of Nations. There were certain disintegrating forces at work within the Empire today. There was, for instance, the force of nationalism, and there was no doubt that some of the Dominions had been bitten rather badly by nationalism. They were anxious to demonstrate that they had attained their majority and that they had arrived at man's estate. It was absolutely right and proper that they should feel like that but beyond a certain point nationalism could be a disintegrating force. COHESIVE FORCES. if one Dominion ever made the decision to break the link which tied it constitutionally within the Empire that might be a temptation for others to follow suit. There were many counter forces, however, which were making for the continued association of this country and the Dominions. "I have watched the Dominions and this country come through crisis after crisis together," he continued. "I have been amazed at the capacity, indeed, at the instinct, of the Dominions and this country to get together in times of crisis and to work together." Referring to material factors that worked towards continued association, Mr. Mac Donald said that the Dominions had got to recognise, and recognise for some time to come, that their main strength lay in their association with Britain and that their security depended mainly on the power of the British Navy to defend their shores against aggression.