The Press Friday, June 19, 1925. The Pact and the Dominions.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18412, 19 June 1925, Page 8

The Press Friday, June 19, 1925. The Pact and the Dominions.

Tho latest development in connexion .with tho proposed Security Pact which is in process of negotiation between the British Government and the European Powers concerned is difficult and confusing. We had all imagined that engagements made by the British Government bind tho whole Empire, and that the British Government would not enter into engagements with foreign Powers entailing British action in the event of international disturbances unless the Empire as a whole endorsed the transaction. But a statement by Mr Amery in tho Houso of Commons seems to suggest that thi3 view of tho relations between Britain and the Dominions whero foreign policy is concerned is mistaken. Mr Baldwin had said that although the Dominion Governments had been kept in the closest touch with the various developments, he was not quite sure whether an agreement would require the endorsement of the Dominions, and when a question on tho point was put to Mr Amery he replied that it did not- follow that tho assent of the Dominions was necessary. Despite all that has been written upon the we are still witblout information as to the terms of the.proposed Pact, or even as to its general character, and it'may bo possible that it is one which does not impose obligations upon Britain entailing action in which the Empire as a whole will be involved. In that case it is difficult to see how the Pact can require from Britain anything more than a general attitude towards European relations.

In the meantime the Dominions cannot but feel-some anxiety, concerning, the responsibilities which they may incur. The Prime Minister of Canada has said that Canada will not be a party to the Paot, and South Africa has taken up the same position. Mr Coates has made the position' of New Zealand clear, and the attitude he adopts is one which gives the British .Government a free hand, with .the promise that the Dominion will support whatever may bo done. # This attitude seems to us to bo a perfectly sensible one. New Zealand is not in a position to enforce its wishes, and has no desires which are likely to come into conflict with the intentions and wishes of : Great Britain. It will bo generally agreed that the people of the Dominion will not favour any rigid military alliance entered into by Britain or the Empire. They would, however, probably not object to a Pact, or even to a military alliance, with | Prance or any other European Power, if they could feel sure that Britain would have the direction of that Power's policy in those matters which might lead to the operation of the [ engagement. Since no Pact or Alliance is possible on those terms, any agreement by Britain to tako military action in certain contingencies on the Continent twill place Britain's forces at the mercy of another State's policy, and that is a position to which all the Dominions will certainly object very strongly. The British Government must be well aware of this, and of the importance of refraining from any arrangement which would lead to dissension within the Empire. It is for this reason.that we arc able to look without uneasiness upon Mr Coates's offer of a blank cheque to the British Government.

The "Morning Post" has been urging that "if the Dominions throw "over the Pact, wo shall again he at "the mercy of unknown forces which " may leap from the dark and threaten "not only the British shores but the "links which bind us to our kinsmen " overseas." The Pact might, indeed, safeguard the Empire against unknown forces, but it might not, and in any case it will equally place Britain at the, mercy of unknown policies and unforeseeable events. Since tho war ended tho opinion has been steadily growing throughout the Em-. pire that its safety lies in keeping its hands free for joint action in any emergency. Europe has for so many centuries been torn by periodical wars that almost any combination is at any time possible, and Britain can never feel certain that this or that nation will be bdr friend in the distant future. And if British statesmen realise this, and it would bo unreasonable to suppose that they do not, New Zealand can well afford to accept the British Govern- . meat's arrangements.