EMPIRE UNITY

Evening Star, Issue 19319, 4 August 1926, Page 5

EMPIRE UNITY

■ AUSTRALIA'S PART LOYALTY TO BRITAIN. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Press Association. MELBOURNE, August 3. In tho House of Representatives Mr S. M. Bruce made a statement on the Imperial Conference. Referring to tho new status of the dominions he said it would bo an immeasurable catastrophe if anything now occurred which destroyed the unity achieved by our common sacrifices. Looking at the new responsibilities involved, the vast majority of Australians were agreed that they had no desire to possess the freedom advocated in some quarters for a revision of the whole Imperial relation and tho new doctrines implied in the demand. Australia’s task was now rather to ensure effective consultation regarding tho obligations whicli membership of the wider whole normally imposed upon her.

Discussing Australia’s position in regard to the Locarno Treaty Mr Bruce said: “Wo could not remain neutral in the event of a guarantee given by Britain ever being called into play, but the Government at‘present docs not propose to submit to Parliament a resolution either approving or disapproving tho ratification of tho Locarno Treaty of Mutual Guarantee, because at the Imperial Conference the question of tho attitude of the dominions to the treaty will be discussed.’’ He asked the House to consider this question but not to come to a decision, at tho same time giving tho House an undertaking that ho would not commit Australia to the ratification of the treaty until tho House of Representatives had approved of such ratification. The Prime Minister concluded by saying that he would most strongly urge at the conference that the construction of tho Singapore naval base should bo proceeded with, and in coming to that decision ho pointed out that Australia was not recreant to its oftexpressed determination to do everything to promote world disarmament, as the true purpose of the project was a purely defensive one.