DOMINION PROBLEMS

Evening Star, Issue 19024, 20 August 1925, Page 5

DOMINION PROBLEMS

CLOSER TOUGH WITH ENGLAND SIR ROBERT BORDEH'S PROPOSALS VIEWS OF SIR JAMES ALLEN. Press Association-By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, August 18. (Received August 20, at 1.30 a.m.) Commenting on Sir Robert Borden’s proposals to make the Dominion High Commissioners members of their own Dominion Cabinets, and also Privy Councillors, to enable them to attend the Imperial Cabinet meetings, and to hold annual meetings of the British dominion delegates in London, also to formulate u joint policy bofoio a.fctGnd*' ing tho League of Nations Conference, Sir James Allen says that ho hopes that all the dominions will thoroughly discuss the proposals, and that they will result in a concrete scheme which will more closely link up the Angle-Do-minion Governments. Sir James Alien, however, thinks that a Hmh Commissioner should not be a member of the Cabinet. He must forget party politics, and adopt an Empire outlook. The membership of the Privy Council would bring him into the closest touch with British constitutional .organisation. Attending Imperial Cabinet meetings on Empire affairs would certainly be a great advantage. This was done during the war when Empire defence was discussed. There was no reason why the system should not he revived. . . .„. The High Commissioner, said bir James, ought also to attend tho meetings of the Imperial Defence and the Civil Research Committees, as he himself had attended tho Defence Commit-, teo of 1913. settling New Zealand s naval and military policy. Britain, if asked, would not object to inviting the High Commissioners m on advisory capacity When Cabinet was faced with diminion problems. “Tho Empire’s delegates at Geneva ought certainly to meet beforehand for a fuller and more effective discussion of a co-ordinating policy, he said, “and present a solid front at the League meeting. I think the Commonwealth Government made a mistake ■when it appointed a liaison officerjjetween Australia and the Foreign Omeo. Such an appointment is constitutionally unsound. A liaison officer ought to he an assistant of the High Commissioner, who should ho the Governments supreme representative, advised and adviser on every subject. —Sydney Sun Cable.