STATUS OF THE DOMINIONS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 26 November 1924, Page 5

STATUS OF THE DOMINIONS.

BRITAIN THE SENIOR PARTNER

PROMINENT STATESMEN. ECHO A WARNING. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT Received Nov. 26, 11.5 a.m. LONDON. Nov. 25. “The Empire” was the subject of a discussion at the Overseas Colonial Institute. The Canadian ex-Minister, Foster, declared that the Dominions had a. national status in policy if not in actuality. He hoped the Dominions would not make the mistake of asserting the quality of nationhood. Britain would continue the dominant partner until th© Dominions approximated her in population and burden of defence. He said that while Canada had taken a prominent part in demanding separate representation, she had not taken a step to avail herself thereof. He urged careful consideration before taking the first step prejudicial to Singapore, and to a voice in foreign diplomacy.

Lord Selborne, the chairman, considered the Lloyd George Government launched the idea of separate representation without fully thinking out the possible consequences. He admitted that Canada and South Africa, who were principally responsible for the demand, had not taken advantage thereof, but he conjured up the inconvenience which would have arisen if the Free State appointed an ambassaabr to Cairo as well as to Washington. He urged Dominion statesmen to realise the implications in tlie position before diiffeutlies arose which even the goodwill of the Dominions would be unable to solve.