SEVERANCE OR PARTNERSHIP.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13874, 11 April 1907, Page 7

SEVERANCE OR PARTNERSHIP.

VIEWS OF THE TIMES. LONDON, April 9. The'first of a series of articles entitled' "The Imperial Conference and Imperial Unity " appears in The Times to-day, with the sub-heading " The Fundamental Issue: Severance or Partnership." The writer contends that a key, universally applicable to tho solution of existing difficulties, must bo sought in the constitutional position of the colonies, who now feel themselves to bo a nation brought into the arena of the world of politics. Hence tho United Kingdom's monopoly of political power and privilege in all foreign and Imperial questions, though natural enough in the colonies' infant days, has now become intolerable. He predicts that tile industrial development of the colonies will call for an extension of British inllucnee over the tropics, and for tho sea power necessary to maintain it.. Imperial unity, which is. the keystone of the arch enabling the Empire to withstand all dangers, can only ba preserved by the admission of the colonies into a partnership on the lines laid down by Lord Afilner on December 14 last, which- is based on"tn. Quality of political statue.

In his speech on December 14 (referred to in the aboyo cablegram). Lord Milner said: Tho conference, while it lasts, is an extraOKiiiiarily important assembly. Consisting us it does of representative ' members, usually the heads, of the executives of all the self-governing States of the Empire, deriving their power directly from the popular will, it may bo said thai, while it' , sits, the people of the Empire arc themselves in conclave. During that brief period we actually have what our loosely knit Imperial system so sorely needs, a body representative of all the autonomous communities which own allegiance to the Crown. The so-called Imperial Parliament, elected only by the people of these islands, is not such.a body. Our own Ministry, responsible only to Parliament ie not such a body. But tho conference is. No doubt it is only a consultative body, thought from its composition it is a peculiarly weighty one. But people must consult together before v they can bo expected to act together. It would bo an immense step in advance if w could only establish the regular practice of common consultation with regard to all matters of common interest, and I include among matters of common interest any question arising between one State of the Empire and a foreign State. Once establish the principle of common deliberation abont external affairs, or oven only about external affairs directly affecting one or more of Hie colonios, and you aro bound to faco the problem of what I'may call mutual insurance. The colonies, .1 take it, are becoming alive to the duty of developing their means of self-defence. That is in Ihc lodr run a much bolter plan than offering money contributions to the Mother Country, howover welcome those may bo in the absence of .anything belto: , . But, without a common understanding, oi' any arrangement for mutual holp, colonial defenco .forces may become a burden out of all proportion to tlioir utility. The whole matter' needs 1o be thoroughly and systematically thought on!, and so you come round again to the primary need—that of constantly lakinit counsel together. Look at it from any point of view, and the (Inly of common consultation appears to grow move and more imperative. And the problem is, how the opportunity for such consultation which the conference affords can be kept alive, when the conference is not sitting. The late Coloihkl Secretary made a suggestion hmv that might to some extent be done. This suggestion was that there should he a prrmanent commission springing out of the conference, a commission representative of all the States of the Empire) which, in the intervals between tho meetings of the conference should examine and report on any questions of common interest, with a view to their ultimate decision by tho conference

itself. It was to be a'sort of intelligence department for tlio civil business of tho Kmpire. Now, tlint by itself would not l)o a very momentous' step, but it would bo a stop entirely in tho right, direction. Empire and Imperialism are words which lend themselves, to much misuse. It is only when stripped of tawdry accessories that, the ideas which they imperfectly express can \a ?een in their real greatness. Our objeri; is not domination or aggrandisement. It is consolidation and security, We envy and antagonise no other nation. But, wo wish, the kindred peoples under the British fiVj to remain one united family for ovo.r. ' And we believe that it is only by Midi,union 'hut they can attain their highest Individual development, and exercise a decisive influence for peace, ami for -he maintenance of that, typo of civilisation which they »11 have in common in the Eufmc hi&tory of the human race.