"NOT AN EMPIRE."

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13435, 24 July 1911, Page 5

"NOT AN EMPIRE."

MR. FISHER INTERVIEWED. A LOOSE ASSOCIATION OF FIVE NATIONS. What Might Happen in War Time. Press Association.—Telegraph.—Copyright. Received Julv 24, 8.5 a.m. LONDON, July 23. Mr. Stead publishes in the Review of Reviews an interview with the Hon. A. Pislier, who said: “Don’t talk of Empire. are not an Empire. No end of mischief has arisen through the use of that word. We are a very loose association of five nations, each independent, each willing for the time to remain a fraternal co-operative union with Britain and each other, but only on condition that if at any time or through any cause we decide to terminate that connection, no one can say us nay. We are hide-' pendent, self-governing communities untrammelled by laws, treaties, and eonslitutionß. free to take our own course in our own interests without anyone preventing us. There is no necessity to say we will or will not take part in England’s wars. We recognise our •territory is subject to attack by England’s enemy. If threatened we. should have to decide whether to defend ourselves, or if we thought the war unjust and England’s enemy right we should haul down the Union Jack, and hoist our own flag, and start on our own. We don't expect attack or contemplete independence, because we expect a riddance of the risk of being attacked by England’s foes. We pain nothing if we are as independent as any other sovereign State and might lose much.” PRESS COMMENTS. Talk of Cutting the Painter. Received Julv 24. 9.5 a.m. LONDON. July 23. The Globe states that as Mr Fisher at banquets declared his faith in the Empire, and at the Imperial Conference praised the notable advance made in calling the- Premiers to the inner counsels of the committee of defence it is difficult to believe the very definite anti-imperial views ascribed to him. Mr Fisher’s doci trine is that Britain should pay all the price of Empire, and Australia have all the advantage until the hour of danger, when it would consider whether it would graciously continu! to fly the Union Jaek. If this is the settled opinion of the Dominions, then the Mother Country will herself cut the painter, and that sooner rather than later. The' Globe considers the • Empire not worth -having on such terms.