EMPIRE UNITY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11495, 24 November 1931, Page 5

EMPIRE UNITY

■ ■ > BASIS OF FREE CO-OPERATION OPENING OF A NEW CHAPTER SECOND READING IN COMMONS (British Official Wirelesa./ RUGBY, Nov, 21. A meeting of Cabinet was held yesterday. It is understood that matters for discussion included the Statute of (Westminster Bill, which is designed to give effect to the decisions reached at the Imperial Conference of 1920 and 1930.

In the House of Commons, Mr J, H. Thomas, in moving tho second reading, said the bill only gave effect to a long-established practice, but by removing possible grounds of political controversy ho hoped it would bo a prelude to increased economic co-operation between parts of the Empire. “It is to be regarded, not as an end, but rather as a beginning of a system of equal freedom and responsibility among members of the commonwealth in mutual efforts for the common good, and the peace and security and wellbeing of the world”, he said. Mr "Winston Churchill, who expressed, “no opposition, but words of caution and restraint”, was answered by Mr L. S. Amery, who said the Empire could not lie held on the basis of legislative supremacy, but only free co-operation-. There was nothing in the bill to prevent the building of unity and mutual aid in trade and defence, and in policy and research. It was the opening of a chapter on which they should enter with, courage and vision. Sir Thomas Inskip, describing the bill as a landmark in the constitutional history of the British Empire, said it was not a hasty draft but the product of mature consideration of representatives of all members of tho Commonwealth.

IRISH FREE STATE’S POSITION

NEW LEGISLATION MAY PROVE EMBARRASSING WILL MEAN ABOLITION OF APPEALS TO PRIVY COUNCIL (U.R.A. hv Elec. Ter. Conyri-rlit. t (Received Nov. 23, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 23. Tho Statute of Westminster fulfils tlie Free State Government’s hopes so fully that it may prove embarrassing, according to the Times’ Dublin correspondent. It removes the Administration’s only point of dissatisfaction with, the Anglo-Irish treaty, regarding the right of appeal to the Privy Council, which, if the Statute is passed, the Free State will hasten to abolish. On the other hand, the Government prizes tue treaty and the constitution, as’ a charter of national liberty. It is also fully alive to the advantages of the Free State’s place in the British Commonwealth. The attitude of the Fiannfail and Do Valera, however, constitutes embarrassment. The Times says that if the appeal to the Privy Council can be abolished, the remainder of the treaty is not sacrosant. therefore both treaty and constitution will probably he challenged at the general election a few months hence. The Fiannfail is attacking the treaty for repudiating land annuities, appealing to the farmers’ greed, 'and aiming at absolute aggressive independence. The C-os-graveites, on the other hand, plead that the abolition of the appeal to the Privy Council will he productive of complete independence, yet enabling the Free State to associate heartily in the British Commonwealth’s rising fortunes.

LONDON PRESS OPINION STATUTE SHOULD NOT BE HELD UP (U.P.A. b.v Elec. Tel. Cony right.) i(Received Nov. 23, 7.10 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 23. The Times’ political correspondent says: "An interval for reflection has steadied many members of the Commons, who are beginning to realise tho serious effect on Imperial relations of any light-hearted handling of the Statute of Westminster. The Times editorially hopes that tho House of Commons will reject the suggestion that, it should hold up tho Statute and engage in an acrimonious wrangle with the Dominions over tho pedantic points of constitutional law. The Statute, by sweeping away old traces of inequality, clears the ground for a new unity based on the common interests of loyalty to the Throne.