THE EMPIRE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19175, 5 December 1927, Page 9

THE EMPIRE.

MR COATES'S REPORT ON CONFERENCE. DEBATE IN HOUSE. STATUS OF THE DOMINIONS. [THE PEESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, December 3. Imperial affairs were debated at some length in the House of Representatives to-day, when the Prime 'Minister brought forward his report on the Imperial Conference for discussion. The Prime Minister said the aim in all cases at the Supremo Council of the Empire was agreement, to achieve which it was frequently neccssaiy to choose the middle path. "That the measure of agreement is so large, and the area of agreement so wide, is a striking tribute to the genius of the British people for self-government," continued Mr Coates. "One thing alone binds together these widely assorted communities, and that is goodwill. I am told there never has been a conference at which the existence and strength of the goodwill were more strongly manifested than at the last conference." Mr Coates emphasised tho necessity for periodical Imperial Conferences if our association in one organisation was to endure. The more often the conferences could be held the greater would be the benefit to the Empire, and the surer tho foundations upon which it rested. "I felt that the attitude that should most properly be adopted. by myself at the conference, not only ns a Prime Minister attending his first Imperial Conference, but also as a representative of a Dominion entirely satisfied with its Imperial relationships, called for a part of which modesty and helpfulness should be the characteristics rather than initiative or assertion," Mr Coates said. "How well my representation of New Zealand achieved this ideal I am not prepared to but I can assure the House that the influence of Now Zealand was always used in the direction that appeared to me to bo moderate and just." Common Allegiance to Orown. The outstanding feature of tho conference was the spontaneous and unanimous evidence of the utmost goodwill, and of a determination to retain undiminished in strength the ties that bound the Empire together. According to that great document of State, the report on inter-Imperial relations, the self-governing communities, composed of Great Britain and the Dominions, were "autonomous communities within the British Empire, equal in status, in no way subordinate one to another in any aspect of their domestic or external affairs, though united by common allegiance to the Crown, and freely associated as members of the British Commonwealth of Nations." Although that statement had beon universally regarded as a formula acceptable to all, it did not follow that the practical application of the principle would be easy. It had been' possible to lay down tho further propositions that tho principles of equality and similarity appropriate to status did not universally extend to function, and that in tho spheres ot foreign policy and defence, at any rate, the major share of responsibility must continue to rest with the Imperial Government.

Status of Governor-General. It had also been decided that ft Governor-General must be regarded as in exactly the same position as his Majesty the King in Great Britain, and that ho could no longer be considered the representative or agent of his Majesty's Government in Great Britain. As a corollary to that, the principle of direct communication between Government and Government, replacing the existing channel of communication through the Governor-Gen-eral was accepted in principle, in relation to such Governments as desired it. "It is understood that this alteration in the channel of communication is now in force between his Majesty's Govern ; ments in Great Britain, Canada, South Africa, and the Irish Free State." Mr Coates said. "In New Zealand, however, it is felt. that no good purpose would be served by altering the present procedure, and it is intended therefore to communicate with the Imperial Government through tho Governor-Gen-eral." New Zealand already enjoyed a large measure of consultation, but it was clear that any improvement in the means of consultation and communication between the various parts of the Empire in the internals between the conferences must be to tho advantage of all. Liaison Officers. Referring to the decision to appoint liaison officers, Mr Coates said that arrangements had been completed for an official of the Foreign Office to be attached in a supernumerary and consultative capacity to the Prime Minister's Department here, while a New Zealand official would shortly be detailed to London (o keep in touch with tjic Foreign Office, the Dominions Office, tho Cabinet Secretariat, and tho High Commissioner's Office. It was hoped by that arrangement to keep each Government more closely informed as to the activities of the other, and with current movements and feeling. The British official would probably arrive in New Zealand early in the New Year, as it was intended to complete this month, in co-operation with Mr Amcry, the details in connexion with the official to bo appointed by New Zealand. Satisfied With Our Status. "I feel sure that I interpret opinion in this country aright when I say that we are entirely satisfied with our status, and that wo have no desire other than tha 1 : our present Association, and the I British Dominions may be maintained unaltered," continued Mr Coates, after indicating that on the subject of interImperial relations no suggestions nor demands had been aih-anced on behalf of New Zealand. "We are, however, concerned in any movement or sentiment that might lead towards disruption of the Empire. We put forward nothing for ourselves, but endeavoured tc ensure that such influence as wc possessed was used always to the best of our wisdom in strengthening the bonds of the Empire." Mr Coates referred to the attention that had been devoted to the question of Empire defence, and the information supplied by the technical authorities had been of material assistance in enabling the Government to decide the policy to be adopted by New Zealand. "The information placed at my disposal," said the Prime Minister, "was more than ample to satisfy mo that any increase in the share that New Zealand was disposed to take in naval defence should be devoted in tho first instance to the Singapore base."

Aerial Transport. Dealing with aerial transport, Mr Coatcs said the prospects of a successful accomplishment of a great Imperial service by means of the two huge airships now under construction were extremely promising, and in the meantime preliminary steps were being taken

throughout tho Empiro to survey suitable sites for airship stations, and to provido tho essential masts. It was hoped ultimately to arrange for a trial flight from England to the furthermost Dominions as soon nfter tho completion of the airships as tho necessary arrangements could bo arranged. Immigration. "No one regrots more than I do the fact that conditions in New Zealand have made it necessary to suspend for .1 time our system of assisted immigration," said the Trimo Minister, in dealing with the conference discussion on migration. "I can assure tho House that as soon as the position in New Zealand is such as to justify tho resumption of that system, the necessary action will be taken." It was becnuse it was at present, not possible to assert with confidence that migrants could bo assured of suitable employment on their arrival in tho Dominion that operations had had to be suspended, but at. tho same time sight had not been lost of the Imperial significance of a properly-ad-justed policy of migration. Among ot'ber matters which the Prime Minister said he had investigated outside the Confercnco was tho dovolopment of the Dominion's trade with other parts of tho Empire. Ho mentioned that at a suitable dato ho hoped to arrange a method of co-operation among the various interests—farmers, Chambers of Commerce, business men, Control Boards, and the Government—in an endeavour to extend New Zealand's markets. Leader of the Opposition. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr H. E. Holland) expressed tho hope that the timo would coruo when the conference would ceaso to bo ono of the representatives of tho dominant parties in the Parliaments of tho Empire, but ono at which all tho people would be represented. Ho asked if it was not a fact that under the decisions of the 1923 conference none of the conclusions arrived at could be brought into effect without tho ratification of tho various Parliaments. Respecting tlie status of the Dominions, Mr Holland affirmed that tho main point of tho 1911 conference was the devising of machinery to avoid the overseas Dominions being controlled from Downing street. A concession which had then been made a.t the instance of Sir Edward Grey, to give the Dominions a voice in the control of Imperial affairs, had soon been reduced to a nullity. Recent movements in India and elsewhere had revealed that there was a striving for equality of status, and the appointment of Ministers to represent Canada and the Irish Free State at Washington had made plain the fact that we wero in a state of transition, and +ht> Dominions .•"'•p moving towards nationhoo' present conception o: tho Empire was bound to go, and its place taken by a British Commonwealth of nations. There would be no predominating Imperial Government in that case. Rights and Obligations. Replying to Mr Holland, tho Minister for Finance (Mr Downie Stewart) said lie could not see any fault tho Leader of* the Opposition could find with tho present system of the Empire, with its inter-communicating Dominions. He thought each Dominion would interpret the resolutions of the conference according to the Status it enjoyed. Canada, Tor instance, was in a position entirely different from that of New Zealand. The real test was how far other countries would recognise the status that a Dominion claimed for itself. If Australia and New Zealand should wish to make any arrangement in the PacifiO involving other countries. Great Britain and Canada ought to recognise that we had a predominant interest there, and any arrangement the Dominion found it necessary to make in that sphere should carry great weight with the rest of the Empire, which should acquiesce in it That principle also should be recognised in regard to Canada and her concerns Dealing with the suggestion that the Dominions should have a say in foreign affairs equally with Grant Britain, the Minister said he could not Bee that any hardship was imposed on a Dominion like New Zealand in allowing Great Britain.to conduct her foreign affairs in her own way. "The alternative is too serious for New Zealand to consider," continued Mr Downie Stewart. "If we are going to say that we seek to exercise an authoritative position on all matters of this kind, then it would involve our having access to the same sources of information as Great Britain has. It would mean that we should have to maintain diplomatic services in Europe »and America."

The Term "Empire." Mr G. W. Forbes (Hurunui) ridiculed the suggestion that the people of the Dominion wanted the term "Empire" discarded in favour of the phrase "Commonwealth of Nations." The word "Empire" was a very fine ono. and he stood for all it meant in tho case of the British Empire. Ho was thoroughly in accord with everything the Prime Minister had done at the Imperial Conference. Sir John Luke (Wellington North) held that the conference* had created a strong spirit in favour of unity amongst tho British people, the 1926 Conference, in particular, showing a most marked advance in that respect. Mr H. G. B. Mason (Eden) stated that even' in Imperial affairs the last stronghold of Ministerial authority was being captured by tho officials, and tho people must give up all hope of being ablo to deal untrammcled with the Ministers who wero supposed to direct Imperial policy. Labour's Aims Impossible. While not suggesting that members of the Labour Party wore not absolutely sincere in tho view they took regarding Imperial matters, Mr T. M. Wilford (Hutt) held that the spirit they showed in that connexion was so impossible that it was not even understandable. Tho views of tho Labour leaders did not reflect the opinions of Labour generally. The Leader of the Opposition: We will wipe you out next time. Mr Wilford: "I havo heard that bofore." (Laughter.) Ho advocated the appointment of Imperial Committees to deal with various aspects of Imperial affairs, which would bo the first big forcible and permanent step towards the creation of a real Imperial organisation that would make for tho co-or-dinntion and unity of tho Empire. Mr Howard (Christchurch South) made the point that tho British Empire was composed of 305,000,000 coloured people, and only 66,000,000 white people, and that tho coloured adherents were entitled to equality of treatment as citizens of the Empire. Mr Wilford was wrong, thoreforc, in suggesting that the Labour Party was trying to disrupt the Empire when it showed sympathy for the Indians. Imperial Council of State? Sir Joseph Ward (Invcrcargill) expressed the opinion that the proceedings of the Imperial Conferences should be reported in the Press for the information of the people of the Empire. The present system was antiquatod, and seemed designed to prevent the people from learning about the position of Empire affairs. The population of the Dominions would, in the not far distant future, exceed that of Great Britain, and the present system of Government ivould have to be revised. He hoped his former suggestion would be carried out, and an Imperial Council of State set up composod of representatives from all the constituent parts of tho Empire, to advise the Imperial Governj ment on matters affecting the DominI ions overseas. A recommendation had

been carried out, howovcr, that a Secretary for Dominion Affairs should be appointed. Ho considered that tho ma. chinery for an Imperial Conference to meet alternately in the different Do. minions could be created,' and that th» president of it should bo ono of the King's sons. This body could hold a mcoting in New Zealand in its turn, and tho meetings would bo more frequent than in the case of tho Imperial Confcrence. Tho Prime Ministers should bo ablo to communicate with ono another direct. He believed tho Royal Navy should be supported by the contributions of all parts of the Empire oa a population basis, and that tho control should bo unified Under tho Admir. nlty. Tho formal motion to rcfor tho report to tho Government for consideratio* was ag/ccd to.