EMPIRE'S FUTURE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24875, 22 April 1944, Page 8

EMPIRE'S FUTURE

WARTIME EXAMPLE RETENTION IN PEACE RESOURCES AND TRADE DEBATE IN COMMONS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, April -20 A two-day debate in the House of Commons on Imperial affairs, in which the Prime Minister, Mr. Churchill, will probably make the closing -speech, opened to-day on a motion moved by Mr. E. Shinwell (Labour—Seaham), says British official wireless.. The motion was "that the United Kingdom should do its utmost, by close co-operation and regard for the different points of view of the nations of the C'omonwealth, to preserve in time of peace the same unity of purpose and sentiment which has held them together in time of war." Mr. Shinwell said it must b'> admitted that before the war Empire ties Avere in the process of weakening, but in wartime all these inhibitions and considerations of independence and sovereignty were set aside, and all parts-of the Empire came to the rescue of the '• Motherland and themselves

against; the 'common aggressor. Co-ordination After the War Mr. Shinwell continued tint if the machinery for co-ordinating the Empire war effort were effective and satisfactory. it should be retained for social, cultural, political and economic purposes after the war Political problems at the forthcoming conferences could only be solved on the basis of appreciation of economic realities, and he warned the House that Britain was in danger of becoming a fourth-rate economic Power unless she took proper steps to prevent it. There were some who looked forward to the time when. 20 or HO years hence. Canada would be the greatest country in the world. Britain and the Commonwealth must face the facts realistically on the basis of enlightened selfinterest, not of sentiment or cousinly ties. Factor of the British Market The Dominions could survive only by selling primary products. There were still vast resources in the Commonwealth yet undeveloped, but there was something more. There was the British market —-fetill perhaps one of The most important bargaining factors in trade and commerce. After the war to reestablish our industrial economic life ■we. should have to import twice as much as we did before the war and export two and a-half times as much Air. Shinwell added that he did not object to a British and American trade agreement, but we must look elsewhere if seeking a marker for our products. "There is a vast goodwill market in the Empire Let us avail ourselves of it," he said.' Continuing, he suggested the establishment- of an Economic Council for the whole Empire to consider an inventory of Empire resources which should be ■ undertaken immediately: this eonncil; inquire into the possibilities of expansion, particularly inr" India, and financial implication should he taken into account. Need for Sacrifices Mr. Shinwell said that if it were not to he a sham Empire, and if the people were reafly anxious for a higher standard of life en +ho basis of economic expansion, thev must be prepared for sacrifice?- National savings should be invested: -in! Empire countries and not in South American countries. from which, in the long run. we gather very little in return The Dominions ,themselves, he said, must decide il they we're to deal with these common problems independently, or undertake the task in co-operation. If they preferred independenee, they were taking on their shoulders great risks and iinmej'.se responsibilities. -Sir Alfred Beit (Conservative —St. PanerasL referring to the possibility of a currency and trading agreement with the United States, said he regarded the whole proposal with anxiety, because he could imagine no greater blow to the Unify of the Empire. Empire Migration Scheme Air-Commodore Sir William Brass '(Conservative—dither oe. Lancashire) said the Prime Ministers of the Dominions should meet annually and try to work out a scheme whereby a certain proportion of the excessive population in Britain might gradually migrate to the Dominions and the Empire. Mr. Vernon Bartlett (Independent— Bridgwater, Somerset) suggested the abolition of the Dominions Office and the replacement of High Commissioners by Ambassadors. "It is absolutely vital that ire should not plan for development of the Commonwealth with the idea that we are going to be rivals of America, and Russia," he said. Sir Edward Grigg (Conservative — ' Altrinchnm. Cheshire) advocated an alliance with Russia. "Twenty years hence will be the critical time. There will have to be definite military commitments. It is a question not of choice but of survival."

International Organisations Captain J. Dugdale (Labour —XVesi Bromwich) suggested that an all-part} programme should be presented to the Imperial* Conference favouring an international police force and the creation of a Commonwealth air service as ! preliminary to an international service and an international reserve bank. Mr. Arthur G reemvood (Labour — Wakefield) said he did not believe in an Empire, Cabinet because Prime Ministers should not spend so much time away from their responsibilities. There should be frequent consultations and permanent councils representative of the Dominions should be developed. Tire Dominions after the war could not leave the major responsibility for dofence to Britain. . The President of the Board of Trade. Dr. Hugh Dalton, after stating that the Government accepted the motion, said the Government was not going to take any final decisions on matters discussed in the debate until it had an opportunity of discussing them fully with the Dominion representatives. In these discussions the Government would seek a united Kmpire policy in peace as it had been achieved in war Empire Preferences "We must seek the largest possible volume of beneficial exchange of goods and."services throughout the world, coupled with 'reasonable stability in price movements," Dr. Dalton added. Referring to Empire preference he Said the Government would not alter any of its preferential arrangements as they stood which concerned the Dominions, much as they concerned Britain, except after discussions and agreement with the Dominion Governments. There was need, not only for expansion of trade with the Dominions, but also with the rest of the world. lie concluded: "Just as the British Commonwealth and the Empire stood together in the grim shadows of war, so I believe that we shall stand together in the sunshine of victorious peace which shall come in its time."