THE NEW NATIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17936, 15 May 1920, Page 8

THE NEW NATIONS.

The great constitutional changes arising out of the have so far attracted comparatively little attention within those dominions most vitally affected by them. At a single bound the overseas dominions of the British Empire have achieved a new status and incurred an increased responsibility. At tbo Peace Conference the representative of New Zealand was not only a representative of an integral part of the British Iknpire—he was the representative of a self-governing do-

minion, with the right of holding an opinion and subscribing to that opinion, oven though it wore at variance with tnut of the representatives of Great Britain. So with tho League of Nations. New Zealand haa definite rights, which may be exercised according to her own dis» cretion. It was just tliis great change in status which was emphasised by Mr Downio Stewart in the debate on tho Treaties of Peace Bill last session. It was to him not merely a matter of academic discussion — it was a question which might bo productive of the very gravest consequences in the future. This view is incontestable. The late General Botha had clarity of vision and several other attributes which marked him as a statesman. Ho pointed out/ that for the dominions the most important thing about the Peace Treaty was the list of signatures at tho end of it. The British dominions had signed a great international instrument, not only with the Ministers of the King, but with tho other Ministers of the great Powers of the world. The tremendous importance of the act was not yet realised, but it would prove to be one of the most important landmarks *in tho' history of tho British Empire. General Botha said: —

Tho dominions) did not fight for B tafcus. They went to war from a seneo of duty, from thoir common interests with tho rest of tho world 1 , vindicating the great principles of free human government. Not only lias victory been iiehiovocl for the objects far which they fought, but, what< for the British dominions is equally precious, they have achieved international recognition of their status among the nations of tho world.

This great change lias come iu the day of other big things, and, consequently, has so far failed to'impress itself fully on the public imagination. It will, however, be of intensely absorbing interest to all who take more than a superficial view of the constitutional development of tho British Empire and its system of government. One definite outcome of this new dominion status is the statement by Mr Bonar Law this week in the House of Commons with reference to the appointment of a Minister plenipotentiary to have charge of, and to represent, Canadian interests at Washington. This independent diplomatic representation of Canada in the United States is an innovation of most far'reaching possibilities. It need not, as Mr Bonar Law said, in any way affect the valuable principle of the diplomatic unity of the British Empire. Indeed, it may be argued that it should help to weld the chain of Empire more strongly in all that makes for the national greatness of the outposts of Empire. The satisfactory and friendly relationships between Canada and America have been among the great international assets of the past, and this j new and courageous step is likely to afford additional proof of the wisdom of I British statesmanship in Empire policy.