MINISTER'S CRITICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23222, 16 December 1938, Page 11

MINISTER'S CRITICS

POLICY OF DOMINIONS BRITISH EMPIRE'S UNITY QUESTION OF INTERPRETATION COMMENT BY NAZI PAPER By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received December 15, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON*, Dec. 15 Criticism of the speech on the relations of the Dominions and Britain by Mr. Malcolm Mac Donald, Dominions and Colonial Secretary, is based on the premise that any statement capable of the interpretation that Empire unity is threatened is not desirable, while Britain's imperial strength is jealously regarded, says the Australian Associated Press. There were cheers in tho House of Commons when Mr. Mac Donald replied to an interjection: "I advise critics to read tho latter part of my speech in addition to the former." Hearers of the'speech, far from regarding it us alarmist or indiscreet, dcclaro it was ono of the finest surveys of Imperial politics that could have been heard. Tho Berlin newspaper Der Angriff, commenting on Mr. Mac Donald's speech, says it is a clear admission of the tendency of tho Empire toward cracking up. The scepticism of the Dominions, says the paper, is principally due to their positions in tho event of war. It is easy to find reasons for tho secession tendency. It is also easy to cope with them.

WHEN PINCH COMES NO DOMINIONS MISSING MR. SAVAGE'S COMMENT NEED OF BRITISH CAPITAL [by TELEGItAFU —OWN correspondent] WELLINGTON, Thursday The Primo Minister, Mr. Savage, in an interview to-day, referring to Mr. Mac Donald's allusion to materia] factors that worked toward the continued association of the Dominions with Britain, said the most substantial foundation ho knew of would bo the investment of British capital within the British Commonwealth of Nations. That was the only lasting foundation for the principles outlined by Mr. Mac Donald. "I do not know of any disintegrating forces within the British Commonwealth, but I was always led to believe that to bo within the British Commonwealth of Nations was to enjoy tho right of self-government,'' said Mr. Savage. "I think that"Britain will find, when it comes to tho pinch, that thero will bo no ono missing so far as the Dominions are concerned," added Mr. Savage, referring to tho suggestion by Mr. Mac Donald regarding tho growth of nationalism in some of the Dominions.