The Hawera Star. MONDAY, JULY 14, 1924. DOMINION STATUS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 14 July 1924, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

MONDAY, JULY 14, 1924. DOMINION STATUS.

Delivered every evening By B o'clock in Hawera, Menaia, Norman by. Okaiawa, Eltbam, Ifangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake, Otakehe Hanutabi, Alton, Borleyville, Pates, Waverley, Mokoia, Wbakamara, Obangai, Heretnere. Fraser Road. and

The assistance which the Dominions gave to the Motherland during the great war won for them a new status. Up to the dawning of the present century the Eritish Empire was regarded as consisting of the Motherland as the head and the colonies and dependencies as her children, bound to accept her decisions and to look to her for guidance. But the children, as all children will, grew up and with their progress and development came the feeling and spirit of independence, but not separation. The large colonies became Dominions, and Australia became a Commonwealth. When the war broke out these Dominions were as keen as the Motherland to uphold British principles, and they rapidly organised their powers and took their places beside the troops of Britain and her Allies. As a result they advanced from children to nations, and the Empire to-day is looked upon as a Commonwealth of free nations, voluntarily recognising one King and one Elag. There is no compulsion whatever exercised by Britain, and the Empire is not held together by any laws demanding obedience by the Dominions to the Motherland. In pre-war times Britain dealt with international affairs without consulting the Dominions, but nowadays the Dominions are kept informed and their views are asked for before decisions are given. When the treaties of peace were signed the Dominions ’ representatives were present and signed for their nations, and if they so desired the Dominions could enter into separate agreements with foreign countries. Canada has a treaty with the United States, but it has not been put into operation. Mr Hertzog thinks that South. Africa should have an ambassador to Europe and proposes that he should resi'de in Holland. The Irish Free State is desirous of making a treaty with the United States. All these things are quite independent actions by parts of the Empire, who are exercising their rights as nations, to which no exception will be taken by the Motherland. It is obvious that the bonds of Empire are in no way such as those which were associated with empires of past times, and all that holds the Empire together is British sentiment, the silken bonds which are stronger than steel. To foreign nations such a method must appear to be full of dangers, but it has worked, and worked so well that they know that the unity of the British Empire is a very powerful force in the world. Germany gambled that the Dominions would not respond to the call of Britain to defend the weak against the strong. Germany has every reason to remember her mistake, for as Ludendorff has said August 8, 1918, was Germany’s 4f black day,” and he knew that the war was lost when the magnificent troops from Australia met and defeated the German hosts at Yillers Bretonneux. But sound as the unity of the Empire has proved to be there is perhaps a danger in the Dominions making separate agreements with foreign nations. We do not think that anything has been done so far to cause serious alarm, but it is possible that if agreements are made without consultation with the Mother Country it may happen that, later complications may arise that may place the nation in difficulties. Unfortunately the various parts of the Empire have failed to come to an agreement concerning preference, and there is a danger that those Dominions favouring preference may enter into certain foreign trade relationships that may cause trouble later. The Imperial Conference may be expected to act as a countering influence, but it is disconcerting to find that the decisions of these conferences are apparently not given the attention by a large section of the people of the Old Country which they merit. This fact makes it necessary for the Dominions to exercise great care in their actions, and not enter into treaties or agreements that may cause complications in the Empire’s foreign relationships.