THE EMPIRE AND WAR.

Gisborne Times, Volume LV, Issue 6203, 7 October 1921, Page 5

THE EMPIRE AND WAR.

CAN A'DOMINION STAND ASIDE? MR MASSEY SAYS "NO.” WELLINGTON, Oct. 5 The Prime Minister, replying to a point raised by the Leader of the Opposition. said he had not the slightest hesitation ih asserting that what had taken place at the Imperial Conference had done more to unite the Empire than anything else that had taken place. He was not referring to the events of the war, though New Zealand's part in the war would never be forgotten by the people of the United Kingdom. He could not go into details that day concerning the work of the Conference, but he could say that doubts and anxieties on the point mentioned by Mr Wilford had been removed. A suggestion was made that when the'Prime Ministers, of the self-governing Dominions signed the Peace Treaty, a position had been created that would permit a Dominion to stand aside in the event of the Empire becoming engaged in war. The answer to that suggestion at the Imperial Conference had been clear and distinct that when the King, as the head of the Empire, went to war, eieiy citizen of the Empire went to wax. (Applause.) When the King went to war every one of his subjects went to war and could not help it. (Applause.) The Prime Minister added that' the position was quite clear. If the Empire went to wax, no part of the Empire could stand out. If any State thought of standing out, it would not be able to do so, since the enemy would not distinguish between the parts of the Empire. He did not think that Avar was coming for a long time. He saw no indication of its coming,, but he was not one of those who believed that Armageddon had been fought and that there ■would be no more war. He was firmly Qonvinced that the people of the British Empire ought to keep themselves in a proper state of defence. —Special.