The Dominion WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1917. THE EMPIRE WAR COUNCIL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3033, 21 March 1917, Page 4

The Dominion WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1917. THE EMPIRE WAR COUNCIL

_—___* . Mr. Lloyd Geobok does not put too high & : , value on tho coming meeting of the Empire War Council whon he declares that it marks tho beginning of a new epoch in the history of, the Empire. Though it represents a great forward movement in regard to the constitutional development of; the British' Empire, it is only the first step, and it will almost certainly be followed by many others. It creates a precedent which must have far-reaching consequences. It opens a door into "that now age for which the war is paving the way. Britain is holding out a hand to the overseas Dominions. Through her Prime Minister sho has expressed the', desire 1 that the whole family of nations of which the Empire is constituted shall enter ■ the new age togethor, "just as wo have come through the darkness together, and shed our blood and treasure together." The Dominions are not being asked to surrender any of their privileges as freo selfgoverning peoples. The British overnment is offering them a fuller partnership in the Empire commensurate with their, growing importance and .the services they have rendered in'thiß time of unexampled orisis.- Britain has ho, wish to interfere with tho internal affairs of

the Dominions, but she' ■ wants to havo their advice and assistance in coming to decisions about the conduct of the war and the negotiation of peace. The calling of the War Council is an official recognition of the fact that the governance of tho Empire is a matter that concerns every part of the Empire. It is a declaration that the whole Empire shall .in future have the right to effective consultation in reference to all questions which have a bearing upon the well-being of the Empire as a whole.

The duties of the Empire War Council have been clearly defined by Mb. Lloyd George. It will deal with all general questions affecting the war. The immonsd importance of the step now being taken is well indicated by the sweeping range' of interests covered by this order of reference. The Prime Ministers of the Dominions, or thoir representatives, will bo_ temporary members of the War Cabinet, and arrangements will be made so that all matters of first-rate importance, shall be considered at a series of special meet-, ings. Nothing affecting the Dominions, the conduct of the war,; or the negotiations of peace, aro to be excluded from the consideration of the Council. The winning of the war is, of course, the first and most urgent business which the Council will be required to doal with; but the preparation for peace will also demand much careful thought and exchange of viows between the Mother Country and tho overseas Dominions. The problom of demobilisation will have to be grappled with, and other matters which will receive attention are the regulation of migration, the settlement of soldiers on tho land, the fate of the German colonies, and tho coming trade war. These questions must bethought out and discussed now. They cannot be postponed until the fighting is over. | A definite. plan of action must bo drawn up in order that the Empire may be able to get back to its normal state as quickly as possible, and that plan must be in harmony with the wows of the people of all parts of the Empire. Unless peace is prepared for, the conclusion of the war may be 'followed by a period of chaos._ Concerted, action on the part of Britain and the Dominions is absolutely necessary. Nothing that foresight can provide for can safely be left to chance.

The War Council will have a great opportunity of giving practical expression to that desire for the closer union of the Empire which has. been so greatly intensified by the war.' The setting up of the Council was a bold departure from precedent; but it'was sound,'statesmanship. It was the natural outcome or the logic of ovenis. 'Ton don't suppose,"', sa,td Ma. ht.oyp George to an interviewer, "that the oversoas nations can raisa and place m the field armies containing an i

enormous proportion of their best manhood, and not want to have a aay, and a real say, in determining the use to which they are to be put. That seems to us an impossible and an undemocratic proposition, and that is why one of the first acts of the' new Government .was to ask the overseas Premiers to come over, not to a formal Imperial Conference, but to sit in the executive. Cabinet of the Empire." Tn conceding to the Dominions the right to be consulted in regard to this 'war, the British Government gives formal recognition to their right to be consulted in reference to all future wars. This means that the Dominions have acquired the privilege of helping ..to shape the foreign policy of the Empire, provided, of course, that they are as ready and willing in the future to shoulder their fair share of the responsibilities of Empire as they have been during the present struggle. The constitutional evolution of the Empire is a process. It is not a thing that can be completed in a moment by the stroke of a pen. It moves on from precedent to precedent. Each step taken ,points the way to the next. The establishment of the Empire War Council will assuredly lead on to further experiments in constitutional reconstruction. The war has taught us the value of organisation, co-operation, and consultation with an emphasis which has made the lesson unforgettable. The War Counoil will have no authority to deal directly with

the political reorganisation and unification of the' Empire,- but' the result of its deliberations must inevitably be followed by a gradual process of fundamental changes in the constitution of the Empire.