MEANING OF DOMINION HOME HULK.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 April 1920, Page 3

MEANING OF DOMINION HOME HULK.

(Imperial News Service)

LONDON, April 8

The “Manchester Guardian” comments aptly on Mr Bonar Law’s recent speech in the House of Commons in reference to the meaning of Dominion Home Rule for any part of the Empire. His comment is with special reference to the fnct that the South African Republicans are now endeavour ing to apply Mr Bonar Law’s argument “that Dominion Home Rule” would mean “right to secede”- — in their own favour.

The “Guardian” dwells on the importance of Cabinet Ministers thinking carefully when they are speaking at the centre of the Empire, in order to avoid misinterpretation. The “Guardian” contends that General Smuts is absolutely right in bis contention that the Dominions are not entitled to secede from the Empire. It quotes General Smuts as saying that the relation of the Crown to the province of the Cape or the Transvaal is precisely the same as its relation to Cornwall or Lancashire . It declares: “General Smuts is perfectly sound in maintaining that no portion of a single sovereign state can throw off its abeyance on its own authority, without an act of rebellion or a revolution. " e could not do it in England,” it says; “it thus cannot be done in Canada oi South Africa.” The paper says: “AVe attribute Mi Bonar Law’s statement to tlie fact that, we have so much good reason to rely on the fiood will of all Dominions that an> attempt to force their loyalty is unthinkable. If. some day a Dominio would like the formal tie severed, then a thorough and friendly, though Dominion, would clearly bo a g.eatoi upport ti, us in the world than would be an unfriendly one that was being held down by force of nrms-if that u conceivable.”