EMPIRE RELATIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 19521, 31 March 1927, Page 6

EMPIRE RELATIONS.

When the new definition of Empire relations, which has been known since as the Balfour report, was issued at the close of the Imperial Conference General Uertzog was enraptured by it. No dominion was dissatisfied. There were signs, however, of the reception of it being less enthusiastic in Canada than elsewhere. Though there was no rear son to think that he was disappointed with it, Mr Mackenzie King, who had been credited with- being one of the strongest advocates of tho largest possible powers for the oversea States, has had less to say about it, probably, than

any other dominion Premier. The report which he has now made to tire Canadian Parliament has therefore a special interest. It is to be gathered that the agreement reached covers all that was desired by him. “Imperial control,” he states, “has given place to equality of status and whole-hearted co-operation.” Also, no commitments were made on behalf of Canada in regard to Imperial defence. In its positive and its negative aspects, therefore, though we may regret the emphasis that has apparently been given to the last, the agreement is equally satisfactory to Mr King. It is to be presumed that it will be so to the majority of his party. Other Canadians, as the speech of Mr Guthrie, Leader of the Conservative Opposition, reveals, and as was suggested also in a recent letter by the Canadian, correspondent of 1 The Times,’ do not feel so satisfied. Their concern has been lest too much should have been surrendered by Great Britain. They have some misgivings that an Empire which is agreed to' be so loosely strung may be unable to hold together. The speeches of Mr Bruce, according to the correspondent of ‘ The Times,’ were largely reassuring to those strong Imperialists. “ His wholehearted defence of the conference,” we ore told, “ and complete agreement with its conclusions have immensely strengthened the position of the Canadian Government. It is not suggested that that was his object, but that has been the effect of his utterances. No one in Canada suspects Mr Bruce of want of loyalty to the Imperial conncctio'uj and the natural feeling, therefore,' is that what he accepts this dominion can approve.” Some fears have been expressed that the latest declaration may be not without the possibility of having disruptive effects in Canada itself. By the British North America Act, which forms the basis of the Constitution of that State, the British Parliament gave special rights and privileges to the French-Cauadians of Quebec which they highly value. Does the new principle, involving equal status for the dominions with Great Britain, do anything to undermine that measure? That is a question which a conference of the Federal and State Governments of Canada is to be called shortly to consider. ‘ The Times ’ correspondent does not believe that the Freuch-Cana-tlians have any cause to fear a rescission of the guarantees given to them, which would leave them at the mercy of an English-speaking majority in the Canadian Parliament. The Imperial Parliament might have no alternative) but to repeal the Act, if that were demanded by Canada, but the Canadian provinces would never all agree upon such a course, and without their substantial agreement no Canadian Government would venture to demand it. Mr Guthrie has a perfect right to insist that the recommendations of the Imperial Conference, which he regards as opening the door to possibly disastrous consequences, shall not bo operative for Canada until they have been formally approved by its Parliament. The conference has no authority to make laws. But he either fears too late or fears too much. Except for a few changes in procedure, to fit in with principles that had been before conceded, nothing new was established by the Report on Imperial Relations at the Imperial Conference. It merely defined relationships which had become established by a long process of development, beginning before thp war, though they had never been so precisely defined before. As Lord Balfour has said; “ There is no power of dis cipline or coercion, and there has not been for years, as between Great Britain and the dominions. If they choose to exploit, by which I suppose you mean misuse, the situation which now exists and has long existed, and to which formal sanction has been given by nil the Prime Ministers, it certainly is not for me to say how such a situation is to he dealt with. I can only give a negative answer. It will not be dealt with by coercion.” The absence of Imperial control will not be a weakness of the Empire if its place is really taken by “ wholehearted co-operation,” as Mr King has said, as well as by “ equality of status.” But that requires that all the dominions should do more than they have hitherto done to share the burden of Imperial defence. According to the correspondent of 1 The Times,’ , appreciation of that obligation is beginning to be felt now much more generally in Canada.