AUSTRALIA'S OUTSPOKENNESS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18232, 17 November 1924, Page 11

AUSTRALIA'S OUTSPOKENNESS.

A CANADIAN OPINION. Crsoa oce o-ffx coEEisrorDisT.) VANCOUVER, October 39. Like a veritable bolt from the blue cune the news to Canada of Australia's demand to bo heard in England regarding, settlement of Egyptian affairs and the intervention of Premier Bruce, of Australia, in the Egyptian-question struck Canadians as «. novel ttep in Jianpire procedure,, and it inimediateljproved deeply interesting to the •whole of the Dominion.

The Montreal 'T>aily Star," "CanGreatest. Newspaper," devoted considerable spr-co to a discussion of the situation, and, in tho course of a striking article, captioned "Australia .Demands a Heading," said: "Premier Bruce, it -will bo noted, did not wait to be invited to intervene. . He intervened off bis own bat. When ho Juiew tk<at tlio Egyptian Premier was on his way to London to interview tho British Premier, Bruce cabled to Ramsay Mac Donald that Australia wanted io be consulted beforo any settlement was readied! with regard to Egypt. "This was much more significant, tban if tho British Government had asked the Australian Government to express en opinion. Tho Australians spoke first... They asserted a right — the right to bo consulted when Empire, policies are under discussion which directly affect their interests. They are not merely possible 'guests' to be invited, in when tho 'host''happens to think of it. They are members of the fondly council, without invitation, when they 6ee their" special interests involved. "The interest of Australia, in the Empire's policy toward Egypt is quite nbvious. Egypt is .the guardian of the iiuez. It is most unlikely.-■■thai wo would ever have • undertaken tho burden of guiding tho development of Egypt if it had not been:for tho Suez. Wo bothered about none of the other North African States: But.Jt, hostile Power settled in Egypt could cut tho Suez: and the Suez is one of tho main arteries of tho Empire. Australia's Position. . "h ext to India, no other part of tho Empire is so -concerned'in -keeping this artery open and flowing as is Australia. Should the Suez bo^cut'or choked, Australia would automatically be removed weeks farther from the centre of tho Empire. Great . Britain would be that much longer in sending assistance to her in case of trouble. British, trade with, Australia, depends to no little extent upon tho short-cut through tho-Suez. Consequently ...any weakening of British policy toward Egypt; which might conceivably lessen our power to: defend the Suez., would bo. a .'matter of supremo moment to Australia.' ■> ■ "It should also bo mentioned—in.no controversial spirit—that Australia has paid her admission fee to v ;this family eouncil, and so has a real right to intervene She is contributing, to this very defenco of the Empire which she demands shall not bo weakened by any Labourite flirtation with impossibio aspirations arising among tho oligarchy that would faiu rule—and- exploit— Egypt. .In -similar case, Canada would •not -have-quite so euro a right .'.tip. interyeno,-, 1 ;... .'■'' ■ .■..; ..-■-■■ ' ;■; ' "■{

".Canada must find ' herself, in any such case,' in the ' illogical • position of claiming the right to be heard regard-' ing .measures taken by Great Britain for the defence of the Empire;when •Canada herself declines to 6haro -the burden of that • defejp.ee.. . • •:

.."But—logic ,o.r ; no logic—Canada is •in tho Empire, and, cannot escape the of that, connesipn,' Conceivably Empire policy might put Canada in a position where wc : should stand -to lose 'a great' deal—possibly all. : Hcrice it' i 3 only common 1 prudence, on • our. part to assert, as Australia has, tho right to bo heard in the, consideration of Empire policies which especially ■ affect "us. ' Wo did,, indeed, assert that; in the case' of the Halibut Treaty. ' \

; Statesmen; Only. Hunmn. "We ought to remember, however, that tho statesmen of Great Britain are only human.' They mako mistakes —as all men do. . Thoy have'not, an several recent cases, dealt with Canada with that sagacity and. far-sightedness that admirers of British, diplomacy might have expected.-•-Perhaps•• it was not the diplomats who ; directed .'London's Canadian'policiec. ■ "But while wo are dwelling on their 'humannes,' we must •-. remember that they are citizens-of Great Britain before 'thev- are citizens even; of.,..the.' Empire, "and that thoy naturally .are affected' by .Canada's refusal- to- help bear burdens of Empire when they come to consider any • Canadian -.question. They would -not be' human if r they:did not resent- our standing coldly aside and leaving all the risks and expenses and labours to them. So'we need not be surprised if we" get a'less patient hearing than' Australia does. : : , "Yet it.is"vitally important"'that we should be:, heard... Pacific Ocean questions are coming more and ,n\ore to the. fronts and . we: axe . tremendously interested. ■'•," ' "For,'instance/ Great Britain might, take .a line- that would; bring : us violently into conflict with. the.. United' States. Would w.e like that?' We ought to keep our eye open and our ears open—and our purses ' open. • Wo. ,are in the Empire,' for. better or-for .worse; and, like-Australia, we ought not.to be backward ' in -seeing that, we _ get the most', but of it. . _■•'- .' 'But a pump, must- often be primed to get water.out of it.".