STATIC AT WASHINGTON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18171, 17 August 1922, Page 8

STATIC AT WASHINGTON

POSITION OF DOMINIONS. VOICE IN EMPIRE' AFFAIRS. NO INDEPENDENT RIGHTS. ; [BX TBtEQRAPH.—SPECIAL BEPOBTEtt.J •..■„ WELLINGTON. "Wednesday. In soDJjej observations in - his report on the •''••-Washington Conference, Sir John, SalniOnd says: "The true significance ol: the 'presence of representatives of the Dominions at that conference is not that those Dominions have acquired for either international or constitutional purposes any form of independent status, but that they have now been given a voice in the management of the international relations of the British Empire as a single undivided unity, relations which wtire formerly within tho exclusive control of the Government of Great Britain. " The position of the Dominions at Washington was essentially different from the position which they occupy in the Assembly of the League of Nations. By the special and peculiar organisation of that body, self-governing colonies are .admitted as members in their own right, as if they were independent States, although by constitutional and inter T national law such colonies aro merely constituent portions of the Empire to which they belong. They are entitled by express agreement to bo treated so far as is practicable as if they were independent, but no such principle was recognised at Washington or exists, except for tho special purposes of the League of Nations. " The Dominion delegates were present at Washington for the purpose of being heard and consulted as to all matters there in issue concerning the Empire, and of approving and confirming, on behalf of their own Dominions, the decisions of the King's general plenipotentiaries, and of testifying such approval and confirmation by signing on behalf of their own Dominions the treaties there negotiated." It appears from the report that no question ever arose on which it waa iound impossible to secure ultimate . unanimity of decision within the British delegation. " If, unfortunately, it had been otherwise, and if any Dominion delegate either of his own notion or.under the instructions of his Government, had found himsoif unable to agree to some proposal which commended itself to the delegation, it would then have been necessary for His Majesty's general plenipotentiaries from Great Britain to determine in their own discretion the action to be taken. If they were of opinion that the matter in dispute was of such minor importance or related so exclusively to tho Dominion ituelf that the views of that Dominion ought to be acceded to for the sake of unanimity this result could have been attained, either by a modification, of the terms of the proposed treaty or by excluding; the dissentient. Dominion from ite operation, unless and until it chose, through its Government or Parliament, to give its subsequent adherence. If on 'ihe other hand it was considered that the matter was of such general iitnportanca that dissent on the part of a Dominion should be disregarded in the interests of tho whole Empire it would have been within the authority oi the plenipotentiaries of Great Britfcin to assent to the treaty on behalf of the Empire as a, whole, without regard to such dissent. The fact that the delegate of one of the British Diminions had failed to sign the treaty on behalf of that Dominion would have had no effect on the international operation and obligations of the treaty. Any difficulty so unfortunately resulting would have been a matter for negotiation and settlement wittiin the borders of the Empire itself, but would have in no way affected the external relatione between the Empire and the other contracting Powers." . • Sir John expresses.the opinion that no legislation is required in New Zealand for the purpose of giving effect-to the Washington treaties or resolutions. "I am, however, informed by the Prime Minister," he adds, "that both Houses of the New Zealand Legislature will be asked to pass resolutions approving of the ratification of the treaties by His Majesty."