DOMINION STATUS

Taranaki Daily News, 30 January 1931, Page 6

DOMINION STATUS

Two messages cabled from London this week have thrown some light on matters discussed at the recent Imperial Conference. One referred to the social status on State ceremonial occasions officially laid down by the Crown for High Com 1 missioners of the various Dominions. This to all intents and purposes places them on an equality with Ambassadors from foreign countries. Though New Zealand has been quite conetent with the official and. social recognition hitherto afforded its Hi’gh Commissioners by Great 'Britain, the fact that an official status has been laid down' is a further expression of the recognition of .equality between the various self-governing portions of the Empire. The second statement of Dominion interest .was made in the House of Commons by the Secretary for the Dominions, Mr. J, H. Thomas. He advised tha,t the conference had agreed to the provision. of machinery whereby an arbitral tribunal can be brought into being without delay should any serious dispute arise between members of the British Commonwealth of Nations, I* or the moment such provision • seems hardly necessary, and everyone will hope the necessity for putting it into operation will not arise. At the same time it is wise when dealing with Imperial matters to take the long view and to provide for contingencies that seem very remote. Though of themselves of no immediate importance, the two decisions announced are an indication of the matters dealt with by the recent conference of Imperial statesmen and show that Constitutional matters really did need discussion and that by this .means unanimity in regard to the principles which should underlie future policy was found possible. In international as in social affairs it is often matters of small moment in themselves that create irritation or mistrust, and that this was recognised by the Imperial Conference and “steps were taken to minimise misunderstandings as far as possible is some justification for the conference itself.