STATUS OF CANADA

Otago Witness, Issue 3772, 29 June 1926, Page 31

STATUS OF CANADA

RATIFICATION OF BRITISH TREATIES. OTTAWA, June 21. CaruJa’s international status and her position in the Empire were brought up in the House of Commons on Monday on the motion of the Prime Minister (Mr Mackenzie King) who asked approval of the principle that: Before his Majesty’s Canadian Ministers advise the ratification of a treaty or convention affecting Canada or signify their acceptance of any treaty, convention, or agreement involving military and economic sanctions the approval of the Parliament of Canada shall be secured. The Prime Minister said he hoped the House would give its approval to the • motion which was brought forward at this time because the Imperial Conference had been called to meet in October. PRIME MINISTER’S EXPLANATION. OTTAWA, June 21. “We stand first and foremost and alwayt for the approval of the Parliament of Canada,” the Prime Minister declared in stating the policy of the Government in regard to the ratification of treaties involving military and economic sanctions. Ha said “By consulting Parliament on great questions we shall help to maintain, without the possibility of division or difference, the relations between the different parts of our great Empire. We shall be able to further in the most effective *way unity within our own country and unity within the British Empire itself.” Mr Mackenzie King intimated that the treaties would be under discussion at the next Imperial Conference. Up to the present, he said. Canada had not signified her acceptance of the agreements, nor would she do so until after the conference. He pointed out that the Government would take up its own position regardless of the decision reached, and Parliament would be asked to approve of the acceptance of the Locarno Pact before Canada became a party to it. Mr Mackenzie King’s motion on the subject of Canada’s international status within the Empire was approved without a division.