CLOSER BONDS OF EMPIRE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 21 January 1926, Page 7

CLOSER BONDS OF EMPIRE.

Future Policy Discussed.

CHANGING STATUS OF HIGH COMMISSIONERS.

By Cable—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.'

LONDON, January 19. The High Commissioners, including Sir Joseph Cook and Sir James Allen, are almost unanimously adverso to the proposals from Australia to reconstitute the London representation on a dual basis, political and commercial.

In reference to political, it is pointed out that Canada and Queensland have both tried that policy, and abandoned it. Canada’s experiment, whereby Sir G. H. Perley was a member of the Ministry as well as High Commissioner, was abandoned alter three years’ experience. Sir G. H. Perley ultimately resigned from the Cabinet, but remained High Commissioner. Similarly Sir J. F. Garrick was Agent-General, and a member of the Queensland Ministry for four years, but the experiment was not repeated. With reference to the suggested subdivision of tho High Commissionership into two separate offices, diplomatic and commercial, Sir Joseph Cook and Sir James Alien concur that such a course is practically impossible. Sir Joseph Cook and Sir James Allen, speaking with several years’ experience, declared that financial and commercial activities were so closely interwoven with the High Commissioners’ other duties that it was impossible to separate them without detriment thereto. They welcomed a Trade Commissioner in the highest capacity, but only as an official of the High Commissioner’s Department. Any attempt to endow the Trade Commissioner with something approaching coequal powers would not only be unprecedented, but fraught with danger of conflicting authority.

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE PROSPECTS.

HAMPERED BY CAUTIOUS REPLY. By Cable —Press Association—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, January 19. It is learned that the unfavourable Canadian reply makes an Imperial Conference in October unlikely, despite Whitehall’s anxiety to hold one as soon as possible, with a view to finalising the Dominions’ attitudo to the Locarno Pact, i The reasons contained in Canada’s communication are not disclosed. A slight postponement may be necessary to ensure Canada’s participation, but tho Imperial Government is still hopeful that the Conference will be held before the end of 1926. NEW ZEALAND’S NEW POLICY. COMMENT BY “ THE TIMES.” By Cable—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, January 19. The “Times,” welcoming the new Department created by the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, says:— “The existence of such a department is a natural corollary to the doctrine of equality af status. Without continuous consultation the doctrine becomes unreal and almost meaningless. Without proper machinery, not only in Britain, but also in the Dominions’ continuous consultation is impossible. There is no reason why all the Dominions should not adopt precisely the same methods. They are perfectly free to make their own arrangement, indeed, every variety of their experiments will probably lead to the best system being readied. The significance of New Zealand’s action lies only in the fact that it is' another sign of the growing recognition overseas that status is meaningless without first-hand knowledge of external affairs, and capacity to play a responsible part therein.”