STATESMANSHIP OF HIGH ORDER NEEDED FOR COMMONWEALTH

Wanganui Chronicle, 8 June 1948, Page 5

STATESMANSHIP OF HIGH ORDER NEEDED FOR COMMONWEALTH

Comment On The Importance Of The Coming Conference (N.Z.P. A.—Copyright.) Received 8.10 p.m. . . LONDON, June 7 Little news is available on decisive plans for a meeting of Commonwealth Prime Ministers, but suggestions have been made that Mr. Dalton may be placed in charge of arrangements by Mr. Attlee.

One theory is that two conferences might be held—a brief discussion by Prime Ministers on the immediate issue of a western union, followed by another and more elaborately prepared meeting to discuss constitutional problems raised by post-war develop* ments in the Commonwealth, particularly in India and Pakistan.

Some intei’esting comments on Commonwealth politics are made by the weekly journal “New Statesman and Nation” in a leading article. It declares that the project of a conference is a belated victory for the informed section of public opinion. After several opportune occasions for a conference since war had come and gone, it began to look as if such an institution was defunct. WESTERN UNION A SPUR The paper continues; That it was not until the project of a Western Union brought certain latent Commonwealtn problems to a head that opinion in Britan and some of the Dominions became vocal, and governments felt themselves obliged to respond. Powerful antagonists to such a conference, the journal declares, were officials, who dislike big Ministerial gatherings. Official Inertia has been a valuable ally of political objections in some Dominions.

In this respect it suggests that both Canada and South Africa have been cautious. Dr. Evatt seemed readier to have the Commonwealth conform to an Australian policy than Australia conform to Commonwealth policy, and accordingly has been well content to rest upon such devices as the Australian-New Zealand agreeent and the Canberra Conference of Pacific issues, on which Australia could exercise natural regional paramountcy. New Zealand had not exerted much influence one way or the other. India and Pakistan have been preoccupied with their own difficulties.

Statesmanship of the first order will be required to overcome such inhibitions, the "New Statesman and Nation" continues, and on the side of

statesmanship will be the urgency of the issues that have to be settled. Commonwealth policy, it declares, if it is to stay in the same race with European policy, has to run fast to keep up. It is already a lap behind. PROBLEM FOR DOMINIONS. "Basically, the problem is one rather for the Dominions than for Britain,’ it says. “We in these islands cannot escape belonging to Europe. We have neither the predominant strength nor the geographical isolation to remain outside the Western European concert. ... for us there really is no choice; . the choice, if it exists, is one rather for the Dominions to make, "Are they prepared to come with us into the circle of Western Powers, recognising that fundamental interest, as well as imperial ties, commit them anyway to the consequences of what transpires in Europe in the future, just as it did in 1914 and 1935? Or will they take a chance on being able to decide in time and effectively when a still more critical moment comes later—recognising that such a policy weakens the Commonwealth in the same measure as it enlarged their own apparent independence? Statesmanship may suggest one answer, national politics may dictate another. “It is long odds that the Commonwealth Conlerence, in its public pronouncements, will seek some formula which will avoid presenting tire issue in its naked simplicity. But the Ministers and their advisers cannot evade decisions on many points where pressure of events will decide for them it they do not decide for themselves ” DEFENCE IMPORTANT. The paper adds that the problem of Comonwealth defence is rapidly approaching such a crisis, Important decisions have to be taken now and j they must depend to some extent on ■the contribution the Dominions are ready to make to general security. 'Similarly, decisions about trade, and finance cannot indefinitely be postponed or camouflaged; nor can those on constitutional problems which involve the whole trend of the Commonwealth changing into an association of independent States, owing no common allegiance.