The Dominion TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1926. THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 50, 23 November 1926, Page 8

The Dominion TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1926. THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH

The report of the Inter-Relations Committee of the Imperial Conference may be regarded as creating a written constitution for the British Empire. The Dominions were hitherto regarded as membeis of an Imperial system revolving about a common centre To-day they are declared to be independent States, free to work out thenown destinies, but, with splendid unanimity of purpose and effort, grouped for mutual interest, in a vast commonwealth. Actually, o'f course, there has been very little change. All that has happened is that the perspective of the picture has been more sharply defined, that what was formerly implied has now become explicit. Things that were merely “understood have now become the subject of expressed and unanimous agreement. Although the change has given certain of the Dominions rather more than they asked for, it has not given others inclined to be a little critical and impatient of the Imperial system of implications less than was demanded. So far as can be seen all, including Canada and South Africa, are satisfied. The event marks a new distance-point in the most remarkable evolution in history. It is an evolution peculiar to the British temperament, and the national inclination to give the other fellow a sporting chance to do his own job in his own way. This habit o placing, responsibility where it belongs has produced distinguished colonial statesmanship. The same principle of policy extended to the self-governing Dominions will produce great nations. The success which is possible from the application of this principle is very happily demonstrated in the case of South Africa. Here was territory devastated by a war which left lingering and bitter memories. The conquered regions were merged into the Empire, and a distinct foreign and hostile element placed under the British political system. Within an almost dangerously brief period the whole territory was handed back to a very mixed British and Boer population, given a constitution, and invited to work out ■ its own salvation. , • , > Botha, Smuts, and Hertzog, former generals in the enemy s forces, became successively Prime Ministers of the Union. The first two have left their mark as Imperial statesmen. General Hertzog, for long a bitter irreconcilible and a rebel, is now returning to his country to all intents and purposes a convert to the British system and a staunch adherent of the Commonwealth. To the extent to which the personal contact with other Prime Ministers of the Empire has cleared the air in South Africa and also in Canada, the Imperial Conference has been a most valuable event, and a very strong argument for an extension of this means of promoting general good will and removing misundetstandings. Under the new system there is less likelihood of such misunderstandings reaching serious dimensions in the- future. Responsibility not only in a domestic sense, but in an Imperial and international sense, has been clearly defined. In connection with the status "of Vice-Regal representatives, for example, a clearer definition was necessarv, as was demonstrated recently in connection with the Canadian political impasse. What has been done is in accordance with the general weight of a gradually increasing consensus of opinion amongst the overseas Dominions. The report merely states the broad principles of the new system. Much must remain to be done in regard to the provision of the machinery necessarv for these principles to become active. There is to be closer consultation. It is easier to agree to that, then to devise the machinery which will make it possible. Consultation should operate in the widest possible sense. . It should provide points of contact not only between the Dominions and the' Imperial Government, but also amongst the Dominions themselves. It is as important that we in New Zealand should know and understand Canada’s points of view or South Africa s. as it is that we should understand Downing Street’s.