OBLIGATIONS, TOO

New Zealand Times, Volume LIV, Issue 12651, 11 January 1927, Page 8

OBLIGATIONS, TOO

DOMINIONS’ NEW STATUS CANADA AGREES WITH MR BRUCE INFLUENTIAL SPEECHES Bv Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. SWIFT CURRENT (Saskatchewan), January 9. After his strenuous week of stoppages and speeches, it is possible to summarise the reaction of Canadian opinion to the ideas and conoepts advanced during his tour here by Mr Bruce. The volume of editorial opinion both in Eastern and Western Canada indicates that no delicate situation has been created by Mr Bruce’s outspoken comment?. lie stressed throughout his speeches the central idea, namely, that the new status in inter-imperial and international affairs implies added obligations to take an active, not a passive, part in the formulation of foreign policy. He pointed out that the Imperial Conference said to the world that Britain alone could not express

the policy of the Empire, therefore it was obligatory on every portion of the Empire .to contribute to the policy expressed. This automatically involves practical support in any measures necessary to give effect to such a foreign policy, and every Dominion should contribute to Empire defence in the same proportion as it contributes to foreign policy.

Canadian comment indicates in regard to these facts, tactfully advanced by Mr Bruce, that, far from feeling resentment against Australia, every section of the country has overwhelmingly endorsed them. Mr Bruce, has expressed his personal gratification at this state of affairs, and the newspapers, summarising the position, express a hope that Australian Prime Ministers will always make a practice of visiting Canada, whenever the occasion offers.

IMPERIAL AUTHORITY DIFFICULT QUESTION AT THE CONFERENCE STATEMENT BY SIR F. BELL. In the opinion of Sir Francis Bell, who has just returned from England, the question which caused the greatest difference of opinion among the Dominions represented at the Imperial Conference at London was that of jpst what authority should he exercised* by the Imperial Government in matters relating to the Dominions themselves. “The general principle that each Dominion has complete autonomy was fully conceded by the representatives of his Majesty’s Government,” he said, “but the obvious advantage in some limited subjects of absence of conflict in the legislation of different parts of the Empire made it necessary to postpone any conclusive decision which would involve the exclusion of his Majesty’s final power to require further consideration by a Dominion of suoh legislation before final assent should be given. “There is involved in consideration of this class of legislation the question of extra-territorial authority of a Dominion legislature; such, for example, as is involved in legislation affecting ships on the high seas or extradition of foreign offenders. POSITION OF GOVERNOR “It is difficult to exaggerate the importance of unanimity of his Majesty’s Government and that of the several Dominions in the resulting statement that the Governor-General was to be regarded as the representative of his Majesty and not of the Imperial Government, and consequently to act to the extent his Majesty does, on the advice of the Ministers of the Dominion, without the right to seek direction, or to require to accept direction, from the Secretary of State. “Another difficult matter, that relating to treaties entered into by Great Britain or by the Dominions, produoed evidence of the large difference of opinion; but another committee to which this question was referred a.nd which sat practically during the whole period of the Conference, also arrived at unanimous agree--nient that every treaty should be made in the name of his Majesty upon the advice of his Majesty’s Ministers of Great Britain or of the Dominion entering into the treaty, as the case might require. “That, is the main point, and I do not desire to. enter into the minutiae of the details relating to separate treaties,- which were also fullv discussed and a final agreement arrived at. A QUESTION NOT DECIDED “A third question of some difficulty was not decided, but was referred to a committee of experts to be later appointed. That question is the power of the Governor-General to reserve for his Majesty’s assent statutes conflicting with principles established hy the legislation of Great Britain. For example, laws relating to shinping, marriage. and nationality. The'rigbt of reservation involves the existing right of ms Majesty on tjie advice of" his Government of Great Britain, to refuse assent to an Act passed hy a Dominion Legislature.”