IMPERIAL AFFAIRS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18017, 4 November 1920, Page 5

IMPERIAL AFFAIRS

SAMOAN MANDATE DISCUSSED. SIR JAMES ALLEN’S VIEWS. BEFORE THE COLONIAL INSTITUTE. Received Nov. 3, 9.30 p.m. LONDON, Nov. 3. Lord Liverpool presided at a meeting of Hie Colonial Institute, when Sir Janies Allen read a paper on the mandate for Western Samoa, 1 dwelling on the new status which I the Dominions have acquired under i the Peace Treaty. Sir Janies Allen favoured fullest and freest discussion of this development, even before next Imperial Conference, in order that the conference might have the advantage of the best brains in the Empire. He regarded the suggestion of an Imperial Parliament as impracticable, while the Imperial Conference was ephemeral. They wanted some form of Imperial Council where Empire views could Ibe co-ordinated and advice given to the Crown on all Empire questions. Refering to the mandates he said there w-ere divergent views as to the authority whence the Dominions received the mandates and whether they should legislate in their own Parliaments or whether it was not more in accord with Imperial ideals to utilise legislation already provided by the Imperial Parliament. Sir James Allen instanced South Africa treating her mandate as coming from the Allied Associated Powers, while New Zealand utilised the Imperial Act known as the Foreign Jurisdiction Act. These differences show-ed the need for the League of Nations defining the position. The covenant seemed to contemplate direct communication with the League as regards reports on the working of the mandates, but the system w-as likely to lead to difficulties owing to the contrary views expressed by separate Dominions under one Crown. South Africa suggested the examination of reports to the League’s Council through a sort of clearing house In London. Sir James Allen outlined the work .New Zealand was alreadj- doing in Samoa. He looked forward to some day when the Samoans might become, like the Maoris, members of the New Zealand Parliament. Lord Liverpool wholeheartedly concurred when Sir James Allen said the absolute liquor prohibition in Samoa was equally applicable to whites as to natives. Sir Joseph Ward followed somewhat sensationally, eliciting the enthusiasm of the audience by denouncing the mandatory system, condemning President Wilson’s participation in the Peace Conference, attacking the secrecy of Imperial Conferences, and advocating an elective Imperial Council sitting publically. H e said, speaking from the experience of many conferences, that whenever discussion of the Dominions’ importance affected British politics, it was marked “secret and confidential.” What right had the rulers of Britain to prevent the people of the Dominions knowing what their representatives were saying or doing? He rejoiced that Sir James Allen had characterised the Imperial Conference as ephemeral. He wanted Samoa handed over unconditionally to New Zealand or Britain, similarly New Guinea to Australia or Britain, otherwise when Germany joined the League of Nations she would participate equally in the administration of Samoa and New Guinea. President Wilson should never have been president at the Conference, any •more than the King. Without President Wilson there would have been no mandatories. Owing to President Wilson’s persistence the Peace Conference was compelled to accept mandatories, otherwise a settlement would have been impossible. The ,peace terms contained the germs of a new war.