COURAGEOUS AND COMPREHENSIVE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18011, 23 November 1926, Page 9

COURAGEOUS AND COMPREHENSIVE.

DOMINION GOVERNMENTS HAVE RIGHT TO ADVISE THE CROWN IS KEYNOTE By Telegraph.—Press Assrt.—Copyright. “Times" Service. (Received November 23, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, November 22. The “ Times,” in a leader, describes the inter-imperial report as essentially a register of the existing conditions rather than a programme of the future. The courageous, ingenious, comprehensive document is probably unparalleled, but it is wrong to say that it is a new departure or a far-reaching con stitutional experiment. There is hardly a statement or a definition that is not coinciding with familiar pracThe preamble, for instance, included a description of the Empire in language which is only saved by italics from being almost incidental. It mayhave its uses for quotation to suspicious Nationalists, but that is all. Then comes a trifling change, in the royal title, but the clause dealing with the position of Governors-General is more important because it definitely raises an anomalous dual system by which a Governor-General. is both the King’s representative and the formal channel of communication with his Majesty’s Ministers in London.

What matters enormously is the do velopment of the system of personal contact between London and the dominion capitals. That is- a ptactical necessity which is now brought into prominence, but it always existed and is being met by various provisional expedients. Australia is leading by the appointment of a personal representative of the Prime Minister in England. The other dominions may adopt Australian practice or would welcome in their own countries political representatives of the British Government. The report does not recommend uniformity, but. emphasises the problem, which clear-thinking and practical experience alone can solve. Clearly there is no disposition to abandon the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as a final appeal in appropriate cases.

The principle that it. is the right of each dominion Government to advise the Crown in all matters relating-to its own affairs is the keynote of all the recommendations of the Conference, and so far as Britain is con cerned there is neither doubt nor discord in this connection. The teal difficult./ has always been to interpret it to the outside world. Are we v a single unit for purposes of diplomacy or half a dozen units?