STATUTE OF WESTMINSTER

Evening Star, Issue 20959, 25 November 1931, Page 9

STATUTE OF WESTMINSTER

STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER 9r«M Awoeiatioa—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON. November 23. In the House of Commons, Mr Ramsay MacDonald informed Mr E. Marjoribanks that he intended to act in a very miserly way in regard to time for a discussion of the Statute of Westminster because the Government was under the most emphatic obligation to the dominions to pass it without delay. Mr Marjoribanks’s opposition to the second reading was dropped on Mr Thomas’s promise of further consideration in the light of the debate, but he urged that more than one day be allotted to the discussion. Mr MacDonald; At present the opinion is that a day is sufficient. Mr Thomas accepted an amendment to sub-clause 2 of clause 10 ensuring the safeguarding of the Australian State Constitutions.

discussion in commons

THE FREE STATE TREATY

COLONEL GRETTON’S AMENDMENT. LONDON, November 23. The Australian Press Association understands that Mr Stanley Baldwin in the House of Commons to-morrow will nounce that the Government will not accept Colonel Gretton’s amendment to the Statute of Westminster imposing a saving danse in respect of the Irish Free State Treaty. The Government regards it as both unnecessary constitutionally and objectionable. Furthermore, it would bo a Serious thing to alter what all the dominions supported at the 1930 conference. It is emphasised that the Irish Free State and South Africa both asked that the Bill should not refer to their unitary constitutions, so the Government could not particularise one without the other. In addition, under the 1926 decision Ireland’s consent was required for any British Act affecting the dominions, and in this instance the Statute would virtually b© declaring that it did not trust Ireland’s word. The Government would emphasise that the Irish Treaty would remain as inviolably binding after the passing of the Statute as it was now.

HOUSE OF LORDS

REJECTION OF BILL FEARED. LONDON, November 24. The ‘ Sun-Herald ’ understands that the Government is greatly concerned at tho possibility that the House of Lords yrill reject tho Statute of Westminster Bill. The Labourites in the House of Commons will support the Government, but many of the Conservatives may possibly vote against the Government or abstain from voting.

NEWSPAPER COMMENT

1 LONDON, November 24. The ‘ Morning Post ’ says: “The Statute of Westminster will have a cold welcome because the new Parliament believes in a positive policy, whereas the Bill expresses a policy of negation. We do not in the least desire to repress the freedom of the dominions, but should like to see it reinforced with a positive policy of economic unity. The Statute is inappropriate to the new and more hopeful feeling which is beginning in, and we hope will spread from, the Mother Country to the dominions. There are two ways of treating it. Either revise and amend it, or if that is found impossible accompany it with a declaration of the Imperial Government’s intention to invite the dominions to consider how we may unite the Empire for the common benefit.

COMMONS DEBATE CONTINUED

SEVERAL AMENDMENTS WITHDRAWN. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 24. (Received November 25, at noon.) . There was a largo attendance in the House of Commons when the committee stage of the Statute of Westminster Bill was taken. There is still anxiety shown in some quarters as to the extent of the changes that may be involved in the United Kingdom’s relations with the dominions, and a number of amendments were tabled to elicit further information. After discussion these generally were either withdrawn or negatived without a division. The main debate centred on an amendment with the object of providing that ’the Bill shall not authorise any alteration in the Irish Free State agreement.