JUNIOR PARTNERS

Evening Star, Issue 17792, 14 October 1921, Page 8

JUNIOR PARTNERS

THE REMODELLED EMPIRE. [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] ■WELLINGTON, October_ 13. Tho changed status of tho Dominions «itMn tbo British Empire was discussed and defined bv the Right Hon. w. i. Massey in his speech to the House Imperial Conference. Pconlo ¥ d nf tt" to wonder prior to the ° whether the various parts of tho Lmpiu could work well togethei ; u glad to say that ho had no doubt that-the Conference had laid the foundation of a avetem which would keep tho together for centuries to come. 1 uoi to the Great War the Dominions were itgarded ns dependencies; but on ac<:oj irt of the splendid patriotism of tk ouna Dominions, tho valor or their soldieia. an.cl tho magnificent assistance they N\cro abk to render the Empire in the great struggle it, was admitted that to-day the Dominions ceased to bo dependencies and became partners-iunior partners There was no necessity for a written Constitution. 1 tie representatives of the Dominions .\eie treated as equals, and uotmng was Her' back from them in regard to the ioreigi policy. This was the first time when representatives of the Dominions had a voice in the actual management of the Empire's affairs. They had had Imperial Conferences in times past when business was submitted to them for an expression of opinion: but tho last Conference was of a. different type. _ There had been an acute difference of opinion about the name of the Conference or Cabinet, but this was not import ant. When they met they came to decisions and advised the Sovereign, which was an admission that under _ tho Constitutional position it was a Cabinet, 'the British Prime Minister had admitted that. There was no material difference between a Conference and a Cabinet, for the present Conference carried tho weight of a Cabinet. Mr MtCalUim: Where does it bind this Parliament? Mr Massey : This Parliament is not bound in the slightest. We are left in the same position as before. We manage our own affairs, make our own laws, arrange our own finances, and our autonomy is not interfered with in the slightest. Everything of importance has to come before the Parliaments of tho countries concerned. Mr M'Callum: Where is the partner ship? Mr Massey; In regard Jo foreign affairs, and particularly in regard to the defence of the Empire, ffe added that in regard to tho status of the conference he believed they had gone as far as it was safe. Future'conferences might go further, but ho did not think it would be necessary. Ho considered that Mr Lloyd George was something more than Prime Minister of England; lie was Prime Minister of the Empire. Ho believed that tho system would work out well, because they had not attempted too much. Tho Conference had discussed tho question of ambassadors, and they could only be appointed by His Majesty : nor could tho Dominions make a separate treaty with a foreign Power unless it was a commercial treaty.