UNITY IN PEACE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 95, 22 April 1944, Page 5

UNITY IN PEACE

AN EMPIRE IDEAL DEB ATE IN BRITISH HOUSE OF COMMONS Rugby, April 20. A two-day debate in the House of Commons on Imperial affairs, in which the Prime Minister, Mr. Churchill, will probably make the closing speech, opened to-day. - The debate opened on a motion by Mr. E. Shinwell (Lab.): “That the United Kingdom should do its utmost, by close co-operation and regard for the different points of view of the nations of the Commonwealth, to preserve, in time of peace, the same unity of purpose and sentiment which has held them together in time of war.” Mr. Shinwell said it must be admitted that before the war Empire ties were in the process if weakening, but in wartime all thes e inhibitions, considerations of independence and sovereignty were set aside and all parts of the Empire came to the rescue of the Motherland and themselves against the common aggressor. If the machinery co-ordinating the Empire war effort wer e effective and satisfactory. it should be retained for social, cultural .political and economic purposes after the war. Political problems and forthcoming conferences could only be solved on the basis of an appreciation of economic realities, and he warned the House that Britain was in danger of becoming a fourth rate economic Power unless she took proper steps to prevent it. There were some who looked forward to the time when 20 or 30 years, hence Canada would be the greatest country in the world. MUST FACE FACTS.

Britain and the Commonwealth must face the facts realistically on a basis of enlightened self-interest, not sentiment or cousinly ties. The Dominions could only survive by selling their primary products. Thera were still vast resources in the Commonwealth yet undeveloped, but there was something more. There was the British market—still perhaps oi],e ot the most important bargaining factors in trade and commerce after the war. To re-estaolish our industrial and economic life we should have to import twice as much as we did before the war and to export two and'a-half times as much. Mr. Shinwell added that he did not object to the Anglo-American trade agreement, but we must look elsewhere if we were seeking a market for our products. “There is a vast goodwill market in the Empire, let us avail ourselves of it,” he said. H e suggested—Firstly, the establishment of an economic council for the whole Empire to consider an inventory of Empire resources, which should be undertaken immediately; secondly, this council should inquire into the possibilities of expansion, particularly in India; and, thirdly, financial implications should be taken into account.

Mr. Shinwell said if it was not to be a sham Empire, and the people were really anxious for a higher standard of life on a basis of economic expansion, they must be prepared for sacrifices. National savings should be invested in the Empire, not in South America, from where there was very little return. The Dominions must decide if they were to deal with common problems independently, or undertake the task in co-operation. If they preferred independence, they were taking on their shoulders a great risk and immense responsibilities. Dr. Vernon Bartlett (Ind.) suggested the abolition of the Dominions Office and the replacement of the high commissioners by ambassadors. “It is absolutely vital that we should not plan for the development of the Commonwealth with the idea that we are going to be rivals of America and Russia.” Sir A. L. Beit (Con.), referring to the possibility of a currency and trading agreement with the United States, said he regarded the whole proposal with anxiety, because he could imagine no greater blow to the unity of the Empire. MARKET IN BRITAIN Mr. Henderson,-Stewart (Liberal) said at the end of the war it was obvious the Commonwealth and the Empire would offer Britain the best market for all her goods, and it was in the primary interest of the working people of Britain to forge now and maintain the closest possiole ties with other parts of the Empire. Sir W. Brass (Con.) saio the Prime Ministers of the Dominions should meet annually to try and work out a scheme whereby a certain proportion of the excessive population of Britain might gradually migrate to the Dominions and the Empire. Sir Edward Grigg (Con.) advocated an alliance with Russia. (Cheers). Twenty years hence would be a critical time, he said. There would have to be definite military commitments. It was a question not of choice, but of survival. , _ Mr. J. Dugdale (Lab.) suggested that an all-party programme snould be presented to the Imperial Conference, favouring an international police force, the creation of a Commonwealth air service as a preliminary international service, and an international, reserve bank. Mr. A. Greenwood (Lab.) said he did not believe in an Empire Cabinet 1 because Prime Ministers could not spend much time from their responsi- | bilities. There should be freqiient consultations and permanent councils. The Dominions, after the war, could not leave the major responsibilities of ■ defence to Britain. —8.0.W.