The Dominion. SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 1915. IMPERIAL UNITY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2348, 2 January 1915, Page 6

The Dominion. SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 1915. IMPERIAL UNITY

The proposal of the London Times that the' Imperial Conference should' not be postponed on account of the war, but should be held this year as was intended before the war began, may meet with a certain amount of support on sentimental grounds. In support of the proposal it is urged that to nold the Conference while the war is in progress would set a seal upon the unity of the Empire which the war has so strikingly brought to light, and show the world that the- British people, even in the midst of war, can prepare themselves for new works in. peace. This is not exactly convincing, for it cannot be contended with any force that such a demonstration as the Conference would afford is necessary, or that it would in any effective fashion supplement tho practical demonstration which has already been given of the .perfect unity of the British Empire. As ; the Times itself re-, marks, the spirit of our people has overridden the defects of our Imperial organisation. White and coloured people in practically every part of the Empire have equally rallied with spontaneous loyalty in support of the common cause, and in face of this highly satisfactory Btate of affairs it is difficult to see what would be gained by an academic discussion of Imperial problems and relations at a time when there is very much more important work in hand. The mere

fact that_ Cabinet Ministers both in Great Britain and-in the Dominions are saddled by tho war with a heavy load of local work and responsibilities in itself suggests the wisdom of postponing the Conference until the war is over or at least until the outlook -is■'■•clearer. Whether the principal members of the Imperial Cabinet could spare the time to attend the Conference is at least open to doubt, but the Prime Ministers of the different Dominions could not do bo without considerable inconvenience. In their case tho journey to London would entail an'absence of weeks, and in some cases of months, from their own countries, and in critical times like the present the idea is not a very attractive one. Even if these practical difficulties did not exist it would still remain true that an Imperial Conference under existing conditions is open to objection. The whole energies of the Empire are at present bent, asthey should' be, upon carrying the war to a successful termination, and so far as the war is concerned there aro no Imperial problems. Loosely knit as they are, and leaving much to be taken for granted, the ties of Empire' have borne the strain of war admirably. The Dominions are animated by a single desire: to assist the Mother Country by every means in their power, and they have' already by their deeds obviated all necessity for the discussion of Imperial questions until the war is oyer. The Times states the case truly enough when it says that the need for a solution of Imperial problems, though momentarily obscured, will emerge when the stress of war has relaxed more imperatively than ever. Many Imperial problems do await solution, but some such problems which formerly ap? peared to demand solution have been not merely obscured, but wiped out. It has at least been demonstrated that a loose-linked confedera-

tion of self-governing countries, with little more than the ties of kinship to bind then) is as capablo of responding to the inspiration of common ideals and a common danger as the closest and most united alliance that the world has ever seen. The war has demonstrated the absolute truth of the somewhat trite and hackneyed saying that the bonds of Empire are as light as silk but as strong as steel. In these circumstances it may be expected that the agitation formerly conducted with' the idea of giving additional strength and stability to the constitution of the Imperial confederation will lose something of its vigour. Having the substance of Imperial unity we can afford to neglect its shadow or skeleton. ■'

An additional reason for postponing the Conference would be found, if it were needed, in the fact that

the material circumstances of the Empire are at the present time undergoing a tremendous transformation. The war has raised ,uew questions of detail which await a settlement, and lias given a new complexion to ■ details which were already in evidence, but the settlement of- all such questions must obviously wait. until tke end of tho war.' For instance, one result of the war will no doubt be" to bring the Dominions into closer and more responsible touch with the Mother Country in the matter of naval defence, but it would bo foolish to plan out the details of such a development in anticipation of the circumstances which will exist at the conclusion of tfe.wfti?. The vifjht cputm flbvlons-

work from the firm standpoint of exact and definite knowledge. The same applies to the treatment of t'ls new Imperial territories which have been gained, by conquest, in various parts of the world. This is a matter in wMch several of the Dominions have an immediate concern. Australia and New Zealand, for instance, are vitally interested in tho disposal of tho Island groups captured from the Germans in the Pacific, some of which are of great strategical importance, and may be called upon to assume new responsibilities in regard to them. All these questions and many others of Imperial concern will nave to be discussed by Imperial representatives in London at the proper time, but with the war still in progress and with no sign of the end of toe struggle the time has not yet arrived. It is true that a few months hence the position may be different and the outlook clearer, but at present the Empire has. definite work to do, and is doing it reasonably well. It will be time enough, when the work has been «)he, to approach the task of perfecting the details of • Imperial organisation.