THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1928. DOMINION LEGATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20076, 13 October 1928, Page 12

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1928. DOMINION LEGATIONS.

As the oldest and the largest of the British Dominions, Canada appropriately leads the way in exercising the self-governing rights enjoyed by the rtioro mature members of tho Imperial family. These rights, in harmony with established British practice, have grown gradually in extent and importance ever since tho old "craven fear of being great," through having colonies abroad, gave place to the bold policy of let ting the colonies decide many things for themselves. To appoint diplomatic representatives in foreign capitals may seem, at first sight, to imply fully sovereign rights; and consequently the action of Canada in opening legations abroad has not been allowed to pass without criticism. It must be owned that the criticism was given a keen edge because, not long ago, since the war but prior to the Imperial Conference that gave cordial approval to this and kindred freedoms in the Dominions, there were ill-considered utterances by somo Canadian politicians about unrestricted independence. But that phase passed. It was soon realised that there was no need to gird at Downing Street in this way. The British Govern ment was as ready to grant liberty of action as these Canadians were to ask for it. The appointment of a diplomatic representative at Washington was made with full British approval. Already Canada, by reason of mere neighbourliness, had been negotiating about many commercial things with the United States. So long as Canada was loyal to the British Crown, nothing but good, it was acknowledged, could come of arranging means for the clear and orderly exchange of opinions between these neighbours on matters of international moment. It might even facilitate, it was well said, the growth of fraternal relationship between the whole Empire and the United States, Canada being a serviceable intermediary trusted on both sides. That step taken, there was seen to be similar gain in Canada's establishing a legation in Paris, always supposing the Dominion remembered she was an integral part of the Empire. So the Paris legation came, and now there is to be one in Tokio. Unthinkable as such a development would have been a generation ago, it may now be welcomed as a natural and advantageous happening.

In his speech to the Canadian Club, Mr. Mackenzie King has been at pains to make it clear that this development, in his view, does not in any way imperil British unity but rather makes for British solidarity. So speaking, the Prime Minister has expressed what is historically and logically true. Foreigners unacquainted with the British habit of thought that links liberty with loyalty have frankly marvelled, on occasion, at the unexampled fact that the devotion of the Empire's oversea territories to the Motherland has grown with the granting of increased liberty of action. The habit of their nations has been to trust in arms or law or the power of the purse to keep their colonies in leash. They have not succeeded half so well as Britain, with a policy diametrically opposite. As to the explanation, it probably lies in the genius for self-government signally marking the British race; but the fact is beyond doubt—given ever Greater freedom, the British colonies have shown a greater attachment to the Crown. In 1914, a certain European monarch reckoned without this fact: he heard echoes of muttering abroad, and mistook this British habit of frank grumbling, at little or nothing, for a quarrelsome bickering in the family, and counted on menacing Britain without incurring any risk of the British in the far parts of the earth being angry with him He had his answer. It was the sort of answer that will be given a<?ain, if need be, should anybody eJse mako the same blunder. There is therefore no call to interpret Canada's wish to have diplomatic relations with other peoples as indicative of a national determination to cro her own way forgetful of her debt and duty to the Empire as a whole.

Giving her High Commissioner diplomatic as well as commercial duty in London, Canada has but done what every British Dominion must feel necessity to do. In this officer of State is one of the obvious links of communication, oven of negotiation, between the overseas Government in each instance and the British Government. There are other links, but this one has been and will be highly useful. In the status now enjoyed by the Do minions under the definition given to it, by the last Imperial Confer ence. this service of the High Commissioner is likelv to have increasing importance What is required by the exigencies of the position is ready and thorough inter-communi cation of the several Government.® in the Empire, and the development, of this is proceeding as rapidly ns i Mcnn-irlnnPfS permit. Along with this there may very well come an in freedom of negotiation with (he Governments of foreign coun (lies, always postulating the persist once of loyalty to the Crown. The acceptance of this postulate is not seriously challenged anywhere in the Km pi re. not even in South Africa, in spite of occasional outbursts there of claims to absolute independence This being so. should any other of the • Dominions desire to enter int< Wmal diplomatic relations with f' reicrn Governments, on any mattei short of issues involving the rest of the Empire, no valid objection can bo raised. Whether the lead given by Canada should be followed by all or any of the other Dominions is a

question to be decided by nonsidera tions of expediency, not of principle They are all States in the useful meaning given to the term under the arrangement ruling in the League of Nations, and as such can claim a right to a large measure of freedom to negotiate. How far they shall use the right, within the limits that are set by the League's regard for tho Empire as a unit in major issues, maj safely be left for them to de cide. Their use of it, as Mr. Mac kenzie King urges, may strengthen rather than weaken tho position of the Empire in the world.