EQUALITY OF STATUS

Evening Star, Issue 20364, 21 December 1929, Page 20

EQUALITY OF STATUS

DOMINIONS AND MOTHER COUNTRY NEW IMPERIAL STATUTE. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. MONTREAL, December 20. (Received December 21, at 11.20 a.m.) The ‘ Star,’ in a leading article, comments on a special Ottawa despatch which reports that as the result of the Constitutional Conference recently ended in London, a new imperial statute, to be known as the “Act of Westminster,” will do away with anything in the Imperial Satutes which are inconsistent with the declaration of the Imperial Conference of 1926 affirming equality of status. The Act is to be prepared and put through the British Parliament after consultation with the various Governments directly, or at a new conference. Its effect is to establish definitely and legally the equality of the dominions and the Mother Country. , After reviewing the effects t of the decision the ‘ Star ’ leader concludes: “ When the Act becomes law there is nothing wo cannot do for ourselves except defend ourselves or compel other nations to respect our ‘ rights ’ or change our constitution. We can call our selves a sovereign nation if it pleases us, and does not displease anyone else bigger than we arc. We have got all the parchment, pomp, and power, dignity, and sovereignty that can be granted us,'but if we get into trouble we ’ will' still take shelter behind that heaving line of grey warships to the upkeep of which we would consider it almost immoraKto contribute; We are defiant and victorious in London, but not in foreign capitals.”