EMPIRE MEMBERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22754, 14 June 1937, Page 9

EMPIRE MEMBERS

UNIFORM PRINCIPLE CHOICE WITH DOMINIONS COMMITTEE'S CONCLUSIONS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON. June 11 The report of the Constitutional Committee of the Imperial Confer ence states that the following con elusions were reached : (1) It is for each member of the British Commonwealth to decide which personß have with it the definite connection envisaged in paragraph 73 of the 1929 report, which would enable recognition as members of its community. (2) It is desirable, however, to secure as far as possible uniformity in principle in recognition of such persons in order to avoid inconveniences that might arise if a person belonged to two t members of the Commonwealth. These objectives could be secured by each member of the Commonwealth normally including ns members of its community persons born in, or who have become British by naturalisation or annexation of territory, and persons coming as British subjects from other parts of the Commonwealth who have identified themselves with the community to which they have come. The latter point will be prescribed by each member of the Commonwealth. Immigration and Deportation The committee then examined the case of a member of the Commonwealth which defined membership of its community in terms of distinct nationality, especially regarding the extent to which members distinguish between British subjects in general and its own community regarding the right of immigration, also oil questions of deportation. As time has not allowed consideration of all criteria that members of the Commonwealth might desire to impose regarding migrants, it is recommended that any member bringing down legislation on this subject should submit proposals to other members enabling observations to be made on them and preventing subsequent objections. Such consultation could also be applicable to new or amending legislation. Members of the Commonwealth not desiring legislatively to define membership of their communities will consider giving affect administratively in accepting responsibility for particular persons to the foregoing principles. They may also find it expedient legislatively to implement some of the implications without resorting to the definition of members of communities. Treaty Procedure and Economics The constitutional section of the report regarding treaty procedure says, in connection with participation in a multilateral treaty, that it was agreed. (1) that each member participates as an individual entity, and in the absence of express provision to the contrary is in no way responsible for obligations undertaken by an other member. and ' (2) that the agreement of the Imperial Confeience of 1926, regarding the form of such, treaties, accords with this position. The committee on economic questions recommended the adoption of a resolution "That the Imperial Conference expresses its warm appreciation of the work of the Imperial Economic Committee; notes the success of its operations on the basis of complete constitutional equality of participating Governments; approves a continuance of the committee and would welcome a representative of Burma, and approves the annual fund of the committee from 19-')8 to 194.3 to be £22,000, the scale of contributions being that at present in force subject to adjustment beween India and Burma if Burma joins."