EMPIRE MIGRATION

Evening Star, Issue 18255, 20 April 1923, Page 8

EMPIRE MIGRATION

ME AMERY’S ADVOCACY. t Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, April 19. Mr L. C. M. S. Amery (First Lord of the Admiralty), speaking at the Junior Constitutional Chib, adumbrated the Government’s policy relating to migration and settlement, trade preference, finance, and defence. Referring to the coming Economic Conference, he described it as affording an opportunity for laying the foundation of the future economic superstructure of the Empire. Mere financial stabilisation would not get rid of the Empire’s burdens. We must broaden the shoulders which must bear those burdens. This meant Imperial economic co-operation, responsibilities coinciding with participation in benefits. The Empire 'Settlement Act was the first measure in British history which endeavored to secure a better distribution of the people to the mutual benefit of over-populated Britain and the underpopulated dominions. If that measure were worked whole-heartedly it would bo to the advantage of those dominions which were now suffering from a shortage of population. Capital would not flow to the dominions unless the dominions were guaranteed a better and bigger market for the dominions’ exports, Lo the production of which capital was devoted. The effective redistribution of the man power and the money power was necessarily dependent on providing markets for 'the utilisation of the products resulting from the co-operation of men and money in the undeveloped parts of Dm dominions. Towards that end Imperial preference would contribute. Referring to defence,, Mr Amery said that only as by the Empire,, not by the United Kingdom, had the war been won, so only by the Empire could peace be maintained. The inviolability of the Pacific was possible only by united action bv the countries bordering on that ocean. It was impossible that the responsibility could be borne, solely by Great Britain. It was impossible to move the base from the British Isles to the boundless areas of the Empire without the co-operation of the dominions, which were equally interested with Great Britain in the maintenance and integrity of the Empire.— A. and N.Z. Cable.