IMPERIAL UNITY.

Evening Star, Issue 14626, 24 July 1911, Page 8

IMPERIAL UNITY.

DOMINION NEUTRALITY IX WAR TIME. PRETORIA, July 22. The *Voik Stem,' returning to the subject of its previous article ou Oversea Dominion neutrality, quotes from Canadian newspapers in support of its proposition. It affirms that the Coronation festivities proved that South Africa is not lacking in loyalty, and holds that it is absurd that the Empire should be plunged into war simply because tho Government of one portion of it may happen to develop a quarrelsome spirit. Tho Minister of Justice (Mr Hcrtzog). epeaking at Turkfontein, said he saw no reason to resort to immigration to copo with dangers without and within. The situation in South Africa was not like that hi Australia and Canada. Her nearest enemy was 7.000 miles distant. South Africa did not participate in European intrigues, and was not concerned with European ambitions. MR FISHER AND THE EMPIRE. AX UNTENABLE POSITION. LONDON", July 23.

(Received July. 24, at 8.5 a.in.)

Mr W. T. Stead publishes in the 'Review of Reviews' an interview with Mr Fisher, who, in reply to questions, said : 'Don't talk of Empire; Ave are not an Empire. No end of mischief has arisen through tho use of that word. Wo aro a very loose association of five nations, each independent oi each, but willing for a time to remain in fraternal and cooperative union with Great Britain and each other, but only on the condition that if at any time or from any cause we decide to terminate that connection no one can cay us nay. We are independent, self-governing communities, untrammelled by laws or treaties or constitutions, and free to take our own coarse in our own interests without anyono preventing us. There wdl be no necessity to say we will or will not take part in England's wax?. Wo recognise onr territory is subject to attack from England's enemy, and if threatened wo should have to decide whether to defend ourselves, or if we thought the war unjust and that England's enemy was right, we should haul down tho Union Jack and hoist our own flag and start on our own. We don't expect an attack or contemplate independence, because even though wo were free of the riddance of tho risk of being attacked by England's foes we should gain nothing. At present wo aro u& independent as any other sovereign State, and we might lose ninch by formally proclaiming it." SOME PLAIN COMMENTS. EMPIRE NOT WORTH THE PRICE. LONDON, July 23. (Received July 24, at 8.40 a.m.) Tho 'Globe' says: '-Mr Fisher, when speaking at banquets, was wont to derla.ro his faith in the Empire, and at the conference lie praised the notable advanc© made in calling tho Premiers to the inner councils of the Committee of Defence. It in therefore difficult to believo tho very definite anti-Imperial viewe which are being ascribed to him. Mr Fisher's doctrine is said to be that Great Britain should pay all the price of Empire, and that Australia should have ail the advantage until the hour of danger, when he would graciously consider whether he would continue to fly the Union Jack. If this is the settled opinion of tho Commonwealth, then the Mother Country will herself cut the painter arid that sooner rather than later. The Empire is not worth having on such terms."