PLAN FOR COLONIES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIII, Issue 23, 26 December 1942, Page 5

PLAN FOR COLONIES

GENERAL SMUTS’S IDEAS. NEW YORK, Dec. 24. Though tho word Empire is still used to describe the Rritish Commonwealth of Nations, the old British Empire found its grave in the Boer War says General Smuts, in an article in Life magazine. He proposes a three-point programme for administration of British and other colonial territories after the war:—(l) The existing administrative. relationship between mother countries and their colonies should not bo disrupted; (2) isolated colonies should be. grouped into larger units . for efficient and economical administration; (3) a systom should be evolved. for regional grouping of colonies, with ultimate control of general or common policy under the direction of a council representing the Mother Country and all other nations in each region. General Smuts adds that tho British colonial system as a systom of P oll tical freedom is beyond question. the idea that the system is based on keeping people in subjection and exploiting them for Britain is, at present at any rate, •widely and demonstrably preposterous ho said. “India, if she so wills can be free in the same way as Canada, Australia and New Zealand, who, to-day, aro free sovereign States. So far it nas been India’s misfortune that her pcoplof or leaders won’t agree. They can tor won’t make a grand compromise and they blamo their failure on to Britain. “Freedom cannot be imposed fiom without. It can only bo created from within. There must bo free expression of India’s own wise political soul. Next to winning the war, perhaps the greatest prize "in 1 the world is Ind.Vs emancipation without internal disruption. Amplifying his three-point programme General Smuts said that outside interference with colonies should bo avoided. British colonies in the West Indies he Far Fast or the African Continent coul he grouped, with larger powers and correspondingly decreased power in London which would welcome an advance in the direction of colonial freedom and responsibility which was the general trend of colonial development. Hie. general development of a policy of such an enlarged colonial unit should bo entrusted 1o a council composed not only Ot trie British Government and the unit ltselt, but also of any interested neighbouring British Commonwealth nation, thereby ensuring a system of regional grouping. Ultimate control of the common policy would come under a regional commission or council on which, the Mother Counhjf and also others regionally interested foi security or economic reasons would bo represented. Thus, the United States could he on the rcgiona conlro council of the West Indies, Africa or elsewhere. Gen oral Smuts expressed the opinion, that the United States should have a direct say with the mother <;onntnc< , . l e settlement of general eojorwal po. - = tfo had no doubt such a partnerTin would he cordially welcomed by the British Commonwealth of Nations.