The Daily News WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1926. STATUS OF DOMINIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 November 1926, Page 8

The Daily News WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1926. STATUS OF DOMINIONS.

There was possibly some cogent reason which, acting with 'irresistible force upon' the Federal Premier, impelled him to move in the direction of a round table discussion, confined to the Prime Ministers of the Dominions, on subjects which particularly concerned them. This idea of a really frank “chat,” free from the attendance of “so many under-secretaries and legal advisers,” was assuredly a happy inspiration on Mr. Bruce’s part, enabling the Prime Ministers to meet as members of an important family and have an intimate exchange of views in order to pave the way to a complete understanding wherewith alone can there be achieved that unity which must be the foundation of a practical and ideal partnership in the British Empire. That the “conference within a conference” took place may reasonably be regarded as a happy augury for the future of the Empire, especially in the domain of inter-imperial relations. Following, as it did, the revelations made by Sir Austen Chamberlain relative to international affairs and the foreign policy of the Imperial Government, the Prime Ministers of the Dominions were able to approach and discuss anew the question of national status as affected by events which have transpired in the more immediate past. The Locarno agreements and the more recent question as to the representation of the Dominions on the Council of the League of Nations, to say nothing as to the extent to which any Dominion may go in the direction of independence without disturbing the basic principle which should actuate partners, were amply sufficient grounds for the Premiers to inter-

change their viewpoints so as to present a united front. It is stated that much was said to show that the issue of national status was not really an issue at all, for although there may be, and doubtless are, varying opinions as to degree, there is nothing seriously divergent as to fundamentals. It occasionally happens that party politics play a part in creating an unfavourable impression as to a Dominion’s policy on matters of concern to the whole Empire, and it also happens at times that undue publicity is given to opinions which really carry no weight except with partisans. Happily, so far as the present Imperial Conference is concerned, the indications are that unity of the Empire will be strengthened and that the cooperative spirit will be expanded, and that without imposing any limit in the direction of national independence of action, there will be complete concord upon fundamentals. After all, that is the only safe and politic course to take, as even the semblance of restraint would be certain to cause friction, while if at heart each Dominion is sound as to basic principles there need be no fear for the future solidarity of the British Commonwealth of independent and self-governing nations. The circumstances under which South Africa and the Irish Free State became Dominions of the Empire were such as to differ materially from the other Dominions, and it is only wise to patiently encourage these two exceptional cases to pursue a policy of harmony and co-operation with the Motherland, with each other, and with the remaining partners in the Empire. Both have their internal difficulties to contend with; both have memories of bitter events. Time will, it is to be hoped, heal the wounds of the past, and should also impress the respective leaders with the conviction that the best interests of their respective countries will be advanced by close unity with all the members of the Empire. Such a family gathering as that which Mr. Bruce brought to fruition should materially help to smooth over difficulties and evolve harmony. Apparently, in handling this particular and unexpected free chat, Mr. Bruce demonstrated that he had profited by the exemplary tact exhibited by Lord Balfour “in handling a situation which, in clumsier hands might have become delicate.” The invariable experience of these Imperial conferences is that when the Empire family meet together as equals, they soon discover that dissonance is only skin deep, and they do not take long to realise that their discordances rest upon the most slender foundations. It is considered certain that the greatest common measure of agreement upon essentials will yet be found as the result of this conference, and that view strengthens confidence in the attainment of a real and durable measure of Empire unity.