The Dominion. THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 1916. EMPIRE PARLIAMENTARIANS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2721, 16 March 1916, Page 4

The Dominion. THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 1916. EMPIRE PARLIAMENTARIANS

On general grounds, something is to be said in favour of the proposal put forward by the Empire Parliamentary Association that delegates from the Overseas Parliaments should visit London in July. tho ordinary way anything tending to broaden and improve Imperial relations is to be welcomed, and the Empire Parliamentary Association has a worthy place amongst organisations working to this end. It may bo open to question whether any practical purpose is likely to be served at the present stage by an informal exchange of opinions between Empire Parliamentarians, but tho idea nevertheless is one which deserves 'sympathetic consideration. An interesting feature is that it is proposed to bring the overseas delegates into touch with Eussian and French, as well as British, members of Parliament. Divect contact, even though it be informal, _ between Nrepresentatives of the British Dominions and those of our Allies is desirable from every point of view. One factor of. importance is that the war in areas beyond Europe has raised a number of colonial questions in which France at least, as well as Britain and the Dominions, is closely concerned. In the adjustment which must follow the war there may be need for a certain aiiount of give and take between the Allies, and the clearest possible understanding of Allfed aims will, of course, tend to reduce friction to a minimum. .

>Doubts as to whether it is wise to convene au Empire Parliamentary gathering as early as July rest chiefly upon the consideration that this is a time for a-ction rather than for informal discussion, however valuable such discussion may promise to bo'in its ultimate results. The question to be. settled is whether a visit of private members to London is likely to serve any tangible purpose while the war continues, -outside and in addition to that which will ho served by the visit of responsible Cabinet Ministers. Canada and. Australia have already sent theii Prime Ministers to London, and probably it will riot be long before, tho New Zealand Prime Minister and Minister of Finance depart on a similar mission. It is, of course, 1 the objcct of these Ministerial visits to the capital of the Empire to get into the closest possible touch and working harmony with tho Imperial authorities in regard to everything that concerns the efficient prosecution of- the war or is related to the war and possibilities arising out o£ it._ The business of tho Colonial Ministers is to speak and act for the Dominions in any and all of these matteb which aclmit of practical discussion or action, ,and while ttie Imperial organisation retains its present character—as it must until the war is over and done with—exercise, of these functions is necessarily restricted- to responsible Ministers. In time to come the Imperial organisation will undoubtedly be amended and reconstructed sp as to give the Dominions a bigger and less restricted part in Imperial and international* affairs, and as containing the germ of a movemonti in this direction tho Empire 'Parliamentary Association has its value. Wo are bound to rely, until the war is over upon the existing rough and ready arrangemont by which act for the Dominiona in inter-Imperial affairs with executive power and responsibility. The visit of mentary representatives would, certainly be of value in tending to .establish a clearer . understanding amongst the rank and file of our politicians of a number of the issues ■which soncern us all in Imperial ■affairs; and though it would necessarily be of an informal nature so far as the different countries represented are concerned, the gathering would not be without its influence as a tangible evidence of the closer and more intimate association which has developed between tho Kothevland and the Overscan Dominions as the result of the war. '