BRITISH EMPIRE

Grey River Argus, 23 July 1942, Page 5

BRITISH EMPIRE

ITS FUTURE DEBATED

By House of Lords "LONDON. July 21. A debate on the vital importance of maintaining ciie uiuiv and solidarity oi me British Empire was initiated in tne i_.ords by Lo’rd Eubank, wno said tnat reciprocal trading agreements, like Ottawa, were valuable 111 maintaining Empire solidarity, also in the prosecution of the war. They would aiso be valuable after the war, when they must be modified but not cancelled. An Imperial Conference should oe held when the end of the war ,was approaching, to discuss Empire problems and endeavour to reach a common policy.

Lorn Bennett said ir we are to have a Commonwealth of Nations we. must have a common policy. In the Dominions, there is no longer the unity of thought and purpose in connection with the war which is essential. We should determine whether everything possible is done to counteract suggestions concerning the Empire's disolution. Policies affecting the Dominions should be only entered into after full consultation. He expressed the opinion that no unit of the Empire could be neutral when another unit was warring. Lord Bledisloe. appealing for wider dissemination of Empire knowledge in Britain, urged the formation of an Overseas Empire Advisory Council, including- all the Dominions’ ex-Governors and ex-Prime Ministers.

Lord Cranborne said it ’was thrilling to realise what the Dominions had done and were doing in two of history’s greatest wars. Nothing we can say will do justice to the Dominions’ courage. The task of evolving a common Empire foreign policy is not easy, but a system of consultation built up since the outbreak had proved valuable, and was developing. It was suffering growing pains, but if the pains were properly and sympathetically treated, the Empire would emerge from the present trials stronger, wiser, and more united than ever.

Forthright remarks about the future of the British Empire were made by the' Colonial Secretary, replying to the debate. He declarea that the British Empire was neither dead nor dying. On the contrary, it would emerge from the present ordeal stronger, wiser, and more united than ever before. Lord Cranborne said the task of attaining an identical foreign policy for the British Commonwealth was not easy. Valuable consultative machinery had been built up largely by the war. Though this machinery was not vet watertight, he saw no ocher way than consultation ten build up unity. Within recent months .the Dominions’ Governments had been- told that the British Government was prepared to agree to the appointment of Service liaison officers, to keep in touch with Chiefs of Staff organisations, and let their own Governments know about the plans during ■'lie formative stage. Similar arrangements had been made regarding foreign affairs. Moreover, the closest cooperation .was maintained in the fields of production, supply and assignment of finished munitions. The same principles applied to the non-self-governing colonies. Lord Cranborne said: I am quite certain there will be an Imperial Conference at the end of the war. There is no manner of doubt about that.

, He also mentioned that the President of the Board of Education was at present taking an active part in increasing the study of the British Empire.