BRITISH COMMONWEALTH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19014, 9 November 1923, Page 5

BRITISH COMMONWEALTH

MAN’S GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT. INTERCHANGE OF IDEAS ADVOCATED. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, November V. The Prince of Wales was present at a dinner given by the Overseas League to the dominion Prime Ministers. His Royal Highness proposed the toast of “The Dominions and India.’’ He declared that General Smuts had certainly not overstated the case when in an eloquent speech he said that “in the British Commonwealth we possessed the greatest institution ever devised by man.” The nature and constitution of the Empire could not too often be emphasised. The Empire consisted of independent sister States. By the genius of many statesmen and the sound instincts of the people, two opposites, co-operation and independence, were dovetailed together. The Prince proceeded to urge the desirability of encouraging a spirit of travel in statesmen and journalists, all of whom were distributors of ideas and information to the people of Britain. It was a welcome sign of the times that an increasing number of students and teachers from overseas were visiting and residing in Britain. He recalled _ many happy days and wonderful experiences in the past four years in various parts of the Empire, which, he said, would always be a help. He added that he was looking to find a future journey of equal interest. Mr Bruce pointed out that the dominion Prime Ministers came to London to discuss Empire problems. He asked: now many statesmen in Britain visited the "dominions to learn their problems at first hand? The Maharajah of Alwar declared that affection and love for the Crown were the greatest cementing factors, and in which India was proud to take a part. He said he believed that the Prince’s visit to India during the transition stage had brought home the idea of Empire.— Reuter.