THE DOMINIONS' STATUS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 192, 9 May 1919, Page 6

THE DOMINIONS' STATUS

A POINT OF INTERNATIONAL LAW. An important point regarding the representation of the self-governing. Dominions of the British Empire in tho League of Nations is raised by Mr. Richard Jebb, a well-known authority on international law, in tho London "Morning Post." 11 the Dominions aro to sign the Treaty and enter the League as separate States, which, he says, he gathers all except Newfoundland are expected to do, their giving of preferential tariff treatment to one another or to Britain would probably be impossible Article 21 of tho draft covenant stipulates "eouitable treatment for the commerce of all States members of the League." Would a British preferential policy be considered equitable to tho other'members of the League? Mr. Jebb thinks it would not.

Mr. Jebb proceeds! to say that "the principle of separate representation of the Dominions means in effect that for all. purposes of intor-Stato relations, including political relations, defence, and commerce, tlio'lmperial Conference is to bo superseded by the Council and Secretariat of tlio League. The Britannic Commonwealth would cease to exist in any practical eense. It would be dissolved into its component parts, which henceforth would individually stand to one another at the 'seat' of tlio League in precisely the same relations as to foreign States." Mr, Jebb suggests that if it is not desired Parliament should safeguard the future by passing a resolution that "nothing in the Covenant shall be deemed to impair thq right of self-governin(j States of His Britannic Majesty to enter into special eoonomio relationship among taemaelvea* .