The New Zealand Times. FRIDAY, JULY 24, 1925. IMPERIAL CONSULTATION

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12198, 24 July 1925, Page 4

The New Zealand Times. FRIDAY, JULY 24, 1925. IMPERIAL CONSULTATION

The importance of constant information on Imperial affairs between Downing Street and the political centres of the Dominions has long been obvious. It. was shown during the war by the effect of the Imperial Council sitting in London, when full information on all points, hitherto not vouchsafed by Downing Street, wa? accorded the oversea representatives. In the light of the fuller information supplied, the Imperial business proceeded with a smoothness quite unprecedented and unexpected. After the war, the importance of this frank consultation was recognised, on account of the new status of the Dominions as partners in the Empire. But no practical steps were taken to give effect to the recognition. That unfortunate fact was made clear when the famous S.O.S. signal went out after the defiance of the Allies in the matter of the Dardanelles occupation. Mr Hughes, who had ceased to be Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, but, nevertheless, could speak from knowledge of the facts, declared on that occasion that no consultation, such as had been promised in the days of the War Council, had taken place: that, in fact, the disclosure of the situation made by the S-O-S. had taken the Dominion Governments by surprise. Two Dominions —Australia and New Zealand-answered the S.O.S. with offers of co-operation, in case of hostilities, as full as their co-operation in the Great War. Two others—South Africa and Canada—did not make any such offer. That was an ugly fact. Its full significance would have been realised had the Turks forced the Empire fo war on that occasion. In such event, us the Empire .is a whole which cannot be separated by the entry of any part of it into war. the 1 Dominions aforesaid would have to choose between taking part in a war they disapproved, or disrupting the Empire by “cutting the painter.” The lihperial position, ate put by the late Mr Massey and by his successor, Mr Coates, is clear. The Dominions as integral parts of the Empire do not insist on going their own way in case of wars in which the senior partner may be forced to engage. They are ready to suport the senior partner always. That is the meaning to them of . a united Empire. ' i What they do insist upon is a consultation, both constant and frank, on alllmperial matters. This so that their wishes may be consulted as far as possible before decision is made in Downing Street. , , They insist, in fact, on the maintenance of an atmosphere of understanding, which will generally prevent decisions contrary,to their wishes, but is not proof against sudden, violent interruptions from without, which leave the responsibility of decision with the senior partner. ' In such case, the atmosphere of understanding having failed, the Dominions must be prepared to abide by the central decision. • The maintenance of this atmosphere must reduce to a minimum of exceptional chances the danger of wars involving the Empire. That is the utmost that can be expected in the case of an Empire of States not formally federated, but closely bound by ties of sentiment and interest. Many schemes have been proposed and discussed fbr keeping up this fullness of consultation. All, as the federation proposals of a not remote date, were found by common consent to be premature. Why not rely on the ordinary means of communication, growing rapidly more simple, more numerous, and more reliable? A thoughtful and exhaustive reference to this subject from the Prime Minister before the session of Parliament ends is necessary; perhaps vitally so, and would be much appreciated by the people of the Dominion. ■