SENSATION IN OTTAWA

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 22, 27 January 1944, Page 5

SENSATION IN OTTAWA

LORD HALIFAX'S SPEECH

OTTAWA, January 26.

• Lord Halifax's speech has created a sensation in, the External Affairs Department, say's the Canadian Press Association. While no one is available to indicate Mr. Mackenzie King's reactions, an official in close touch with the Prime Minister said that the speech came as a surprise.

In the official's opinion, it was unfortunate, tending to divide the country with Imperialists on the one hand and isolationists on the other, whereas the bulk of Canadian opinion was in between. Thus, the official thought, it would be unfortunate if Canada's relationship with the Commonwealth became a domestic issue. It might be forced as an issue for a General Election, but he. hoped it would not. It would take, at least 25 years to evolve a united British Commonwealth policy such as he had advocated in his speech on Monday, said Lord Halifax at a Press conference in Ottawa. He gave an assurance that it would not ■affect Canada's status regarding her relations with the United States and iher right to make,separate treaties and maintain separate embassies and legations. Lord Halifax emphasised that interdependence of the members of the Commonwealth . could be achieved •without interfering with the Dominion's independence. He explained that the Prime Ministers could maintain close contact among themselves and with the British Government. He favoured a system of loose unity rather than an Empire Parliament with a constitution binding all the members. The Ottawa correspondent of the "New York Times" says: "Lord Halifax's suggestion, like that 'of FieldMarshal Smuts, which is greatly criticised here, differs essentially from the conception held by the present Administration, which feels that the Commonwealth is stronger now with its loose, flexible ties of sentiment and common ideals than if all the components were tied to a common policy. The reasons for such an attitude include Canada's geographical position and her freedom from invasion in the past 150 years, her dependence on the world markets, and the racial composition of her people."

In his earlier speech, published yes-terday,-Lord Halifax stated that the British Commonwealth must fortify its partnership by unity of action as well as thought on all vital. international issues. It should be remembered that ■the Statute of Westminster, while assuring complete self-government, had left unsolved obstinate problems of foreign policy and defence. "Self-de-termination in external affairs is plainly lost if responsibility for action is not ■shared by all," he said. "It will be an immeasurable gain if, on vital issues, we can achieve . a common foreign policy expressed not by a single voice ibut in unison. Otherwise the Dominions will again face the inexorable dilemma they were confronted with on September 3, 1939, of haying to conform to an unshared policy or stand aside and see the Commonwealth shattered. The solution may be in maintaining and extending the present wartime planning consultation procedure. Not Britain alone but the British Commonwealth must be the fourth Power in that group of nations on which the peace of the world henceforth will depend."