EXTRA EDITION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 5 August 1926, Page 9

EXTRA EDITION.

A IMPERIAL RELATIONS

EMPIRE’S FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

EFFECT OF LOCAENO TREATY

DOMINIONS’ RESPONSIBILITIES

BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT Received 1.20 p.m. to-day. MELBOURNE, Aug. 5. Tlie House of lie present ax ive-s is discussing the motion of the Prime- Minister (the Rt. Hon. S. 31. Bruce) for the printing of the Imperial Conference agenda. Mr Charlton, Labour Leader, objected to Mr Bruce’,s suggestion, that the existing state of affairs as regards relation between Australia and Britain should be altered to the extent of giving the Dominions a voice in foreign aifairs. He did not think such a change would be in the interests of either th© Empire or the Dominions. It would mean that if Britain went to war Australia would be compelled to take part. His point was that the people of Australia -should, be permitted to decide the question. The Labour Party .stood, for the Australian foreign policy being developed in the light of day. It was determined to uphold the rights that belonged to the nations, and to support self-determination as the heritage of all men cf all lands. Referring to the League of Nations, Mr Charlton said seven years had passed since tlie formation of the y League and it had accomplished nothing. He was glad to have Mr Bruce’s assurance that Australia would take no steps to ratify the Locarno Treaty until Parliament had ma.de it*; decision. Australia would not be justified in becoming n party to, the treaty, as .she had never been consulted. If at any time it became necessary for Australia to assist Britain, she would be certain to do so, as; in the past, but Australia should not involve herself in; European, affairs. Air W. 31. Hughes urged the necessity of the Dominions taking their part in a, scheme of Empire defence. One of the responsibilities of unity was defence. When the Imperial Conference came to consider the question of defence. the principle that ought be adopted was that- while local defence was the proper business of the Dominion concerned, defence of the Empire was the business of all. The proper basis for the provision of defence for the Empire should be a. per capita levy on the whole population of the Empire. He favoured the Locarno Treaty being ratified. Whether Australia ratified it or not. the consequences would be on its shoulders, because when Britain was at war Australia was also at war. That being the position, he favoured Australia having, the same say in determining tlie foreign policy of Britain. Tlie Hon. W. A. Watt said he 1 relieved the Locarno Treaty had been made for good, but he was sorry that Britain had become a guarantor thereof merely because; of lier benevolent view of European polities. She had abandoned her splendid policy of isolation, and independence and had become the, guarantor of a quarrel between three of the most powerful nations in Europe. She thereby placed herse-T in a most dangerous position without compensating advantage. Whether any Dominion were consulted or not, or whether it affirmed it or not, it was,technically actually bound to the Locarno Treaty the moment Britain signed it.