Nelson Evening Mail TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 1932 TWO BRITISH STATESMEN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 21 June 1932, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 1932 TWO BRITISH STATESMEN

THOUGH the activities of the British delegates at Lausanne would seem to imply that Great Britain is vitally connected with Europe, both politically and economically, the fact is that her most important interests, are elsewhere. Geographically, of course, she is ancl must remain part of Europe, but politically her interests are world-wide, and woven with those of. her vast Empire, including the Dominions, whose connection with her grows more and more important as time goes by. This does not mean that Great Britain’s concern lor tlie welfare of the countries of the European Continent is merely sentimental. Far from it. The part which her statesmen arc playing at Lausanne is prompted by the knowledge that a prosperous Europe would mean immense benefit to Great Britain, whereas the economic collapse of Europe would have disastrous repercussions everywhere in the world, and most seriously probably in the British Tsles. So that at length Mr Ramsay MacDonald’s internationalism finds itself in a measure justified, and certainly is presented with a wide field wherein it may he usefully employed. It does not appear that Mr Baldwin is attending the Lausanne Conference, at least in its early stages. No doubt the Conservatives’ leader finds plenty to occupy him in preparing for the work

which flic British delegation will have to do at the forthcoming Ottawa Conference. It has been declared in more than one quarter, that- on the success of that Conference depends largely the future prosperity of Great Britain and of the Empire generallly. There is not lacking evidence that there are those in England herself and in the world outsido the Empire, who would like to see the Ottawa Conference fail, and consequently it may be anticipated that Mr Baldwin, who was a business-man before lie was a politician, may he expected to exert himself the more strenuously to make the Conference a success. He has said that the British delegation will go to the Conference in no bargaining spirit, but with a view to promoting a constructive policy for the benefit of the whole Empire. It is to be hoped that that is the spirit in which the Dominions’ delegations will assemble in the Canadian capital. Of course it is primarily a Conference lor the promotion of trade between the Empire’s component parts, and that must necessarily mean the promotion of individual interests, hut it should also mean the promotion of the Empire’s interests as a whole. It is expected that the spirit- actuating the delegates will he the spirit of give-and-take, and that is the spirit which will accomplish most for the Empire as a whole and for its component parts individually. It is the fundamental principle which underlies international trade, and should be the more easily applied to trade within the Empire, because of the filial relationships existing between the Dominions and the Mother Country. It has been said that the failure of the Ottawa Conference would bring disaster lo the British Comm'omvealth of Nations and to the British Empire. 1 hough that is certainly an exaggerated view, there is no doubt that it is of vital importance that the Conference shall he a success. By the word success is meant not merely the pecuniary benefits which will result from the increase of interEmpire trade, hut the strengthening of the filial relationships of the Empire’s component parts. For it must he recognised that not only does the increase of the Empire’s prosperity depend largely upon the increase of the trade between the nations which compose it, hut that the political strength of the Empire depends upon the continuance of the friendship and unity of those nations. Than Mr Baldwin there is no one better able to promote such a spirit of cordiality among the delegates who will meet at Ottawa, and it is the best of omens for the success of the Conference that the British ex-Premier is leading the British delegation. The British Minister for the Dominions and Colonies will necessarily play an important part, hut doubtless it will be to Mr Baldwin that the Conference will look for the expression of the British Government’s mind on economic and political matters of major importance. Throughout the Empire there will he an earnest desire that success may attend the labours of the British delegation, led by the British Premier, at Lausanne, and of Mr Baldwin at- Ottawa. Mr MacDonald is engaged in a mission which embraces the interests of a Continent. Mr Baldwin will lie engaged in a mission which lias as its object the welfare of an Empire, whose territory and people exceed the area and population of Europe. The work of both these British statesmen is of immense importance, and the King’s subjects in every part of the globe will wish them complete success.