IMPERIAL FEDERATION

Evening Star, Issue 14513, 3 November 1910, Page 6

IMPERIAL FEDERATION

AN INVOLVED PROBLEM

MIXED UP WITH DOMESTIC CONCERNS.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright

LONDON, November 2.

‘ The Times ’ endorses Mr L. C. Arnery’s view that Imperial Federation will neither bo hindered by genuine evolution nor helped by an open Federation. Great Britiiin, in any case, is too far off to be admitted as a factor in tho present domestic calculation. Referring to a cablegram sent by its Sydney correspondent, the paper says : “ It is important to note that Australians are already taking alarm at the mere discussion of Imperial Federation in connection with a purely British problem.” “ Pacificus,” in his latest contribution to ‘ The Times,’ suggests a convention similar to those of the United States and South Africa, broadly representative of the main divisions of political opinion, with closed doors, to formulate a proposal to end the present difficulty. Parliament could afterwards accept amendments or reject the proposal. The writer concludes as follows :—“ It is contended that tho introduction of Federalism into the United Kingdom would make Imperial Union harder to achieve, but this is untrue. The Imperia 1 Parliament alone required to assent to tho scheme of Imperial Union. The Dominions are very shy of entering into our discussions even on Defence matters, because of the confusion of party issues existing. The present parliamentary system makes it almost impossible for tho Dominions to support any line of policy without identifying themselves with one or other of the British parties. If the convention solves Home Rule for Ireland and the House of Lords question it will create a precedent giving the hope that a similar convention will discover a method consistent with popular government and national ambitions for arriving at an understanding between the United Kingdom and the Dominions.”