SIR JAMES ALIEN

Evening Star, Issue 19273, 11 June 1926, Page 8

SIR JAMES ALIEN

MOTHERLAND AND DOMINIONS LOOKING AHEAD. Press Association—By Telegraph—t'opyrigbi ■ LONDON, June 10,. ; (Receive ' June 11, at noon.) “ Although'we have'sometimes held different opinions on some aspects, we have come to the conclusion that we get the-greatest possible freedom under the Crown. The link binding us to the Crown will never be broken,” emphatically declared Sir James Allen, referring to the dominion’s attitude to England at the Colonial Institute’s farewell luncheon.

Sir James Allen alluded to the South African flag incident. He said he was confident that they would never break from the Crown. He declared that if a real test came again the Empire would bo found as sound as it was in 1014. “Some people,” he said, “talk of separation, and some of abandonment of the Union Jack, but they will all come to the conclusion that constant loyalty to the present order will serve their purposes best.”

Sir James Allen added that it was gratifying to find that the High Commissioners were much more closely associated than they were before, mainly as tbe result of tbe Wembley Exhibition. They now met regularly round the table in the Canadian Office. Sir James Alim suggested that Mr Amery should inaugurate a system enabling officers coming into contact with the dominions to visit tbe dominions to obtn'n personal experience, which would be extraordinarily valuable when they held more important positions. The High Commissioners’ positions were more responsible than they were a decade ago. Sir James Allen referred to Mr Amcry’s weekly meeting with the High Commissioners to discuss dominion affairs, at which he explained the aspirations of the Mother Country and discussed foreign affairs. Sir Charles Lucas, who presided, read an apology from Mr Amery for his absence. The Minister described Sir James Allen as one of the most esteemed and affectionate of High Commissioners.—A. and N.Z. Cable,