UNITY OF THOUGHT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25443, 26 January 1944, Page 5

UNITY OF THOUGHT

BRITAIN AND DOMINIONS INTERNATIONAL ISSUES (Rec. 7 p.m.) OTTAWA, Jan; 24. “Britain could hardly claim equal partnership with the United States, Russia, and China after the war without the rest of the Empire. Therefore, the British Commonwealth must fortify; the partnership by unity of action as’ well as thought on all vital international issues.’’ said Lord Halifax in a speech at the Board of Trade centenary celebrations at Toronto. He said; “ History will recognise the British Commonwealth’s unshaken staunchness as a decisive factor of the war. Before accepting the conclusion that all is at present for the best, we should remember that the Statute of Westminster, while assuring complete self-government, left unsolved obstinate problems of foreign policy and defence. Self-determina-tion in external affairs is plainly a loss of responsibility, for action is not shared by all. It will be an immeasurable gain if on vital issues we can achieve a common foreign policy, expressed not by a single voice, but in unison. Otherwise the dominions will again face the inexorable dilemma of September 2, 1939, of having to conform to an unshared policy or stand aside and see the Commonwealth shattered. The solution may be in maintaining and extending the present war-time planning and consultation procedure. Not Britain alone, but the British Commonwealth, must be the fourth Power in the group of nations—the United States, Russia, and China—on which the peace of the world will henceforth depend.”