UNITY OF EMPIRE

Hokitika Guardian, 22 June 1920, Page 4

UNITY OF EMPIRE

SPEECH LORD MILNER

(Banter's Telegram., 1

LONDON, June 18. In the Lords, Lord Milner continuing hiss reply to Charwood regarding machinery to ensure continuous consu natation with different parte of the Em pire, paid we frankly accepted the Dominions as partner of nations of equal status though by common consent we might hold the position of leadership as hoad of the family. It was supremely important to the Empire and world that tlie self governing dominions and United Kingdom should continue to pursue a common policy on all grent questions of international affairs; that in tlie , councils of the world the British Empire could speak with a single voice, but if that be accomplished under the present constitutional conditions it would only be because the self-governing nations had ♦agreed upon a particular policy. There was no' power in the constitution to impose the will of the majority upon the dissentients. If thjey failed to agree on common action, it was impossible. Fortunately in great test expedience namely, our wax' policy, all continuously agi'eed both about the policy as a whole, and every important charter. It would be too sanguine to presume always to count on being equally fortunate. We must, recognise circumstances might arise even in a great international crisis, in which the action of tfye Empire could b© paralysed or greatly weakened to further agreement between all' Dominions. That would be a disaster but only likely' to occur if we lost, during peace time, the close touch established hi vv'ar time. He did not believe on any of the world questions different views would be taken by different parts of the Empire, so long as they remained in intimate touch with one another and were able to consult before a crisis arose. It was of vital importance to maintain continuous knowledge on the part of self-governing dominions, of the policy which any one was pursuing and chiefly'

, which United Kingdom was pursuing as regards the foreign policy. Dealing with existing methods of consultation he said the Imperial conference was gathering greater influence. '■ Its resolutions hjtd considerable effect on the uonduct of affairs in the different conn-" • tries represented, and a good deal of the most useful effect in pulling tlu Empire together had been the result

of those bdcasionnl meetings. We must • regard the conference as the regular and permanent organ of our . Empire constitution, because we had a per-' mnnent secretariat to pursue the various questions and collect material for future conferences and by communication with various Governments to see the resolutions were carried out. Although it was a most valuable instrument, it was very far, owing to the long interval between the conference, from being of enduring strength. The Empire was continuously brought to bear upon the direction of affairs of the world, in a. way in which the powers of any unified Government could he ixercised. The question arose whether they should not devise means of making the influence of the Empire as a whole as distinct from United Kingdom rmtinuously effective in the councils of •' the worlxl.' This was temporarily achieved in war time and peace negotiations, through the Imperial War Cabinet. The British Empire delegation the Imperial War Cabinet was complete in executive of the whole Empire, as it could possibly be conceived, but it was bound to fall into abeyance at the end of the war, if only because the Premiers , of the Dominions could not continue to ' remain absolutely convinced tb at something more was necessary than we had got in the constitution of the Empire. The splendid harmony existing in war time was not to be frittered away in peace time, and .if we . were not to separate from one another, going different roads without,knowing it, he was convinced ‘ we would be able, to hold together on all matters of world importance, only if * we kept in closer touch than it were possible to do merely by means of an Imperial Conference held every four or five years. Something which brought the peoples of tlie different self-governing States of the Empire into closer touch, was essential if the Empire was going to play.the great role it ought to play in

the world. Something of this kind was in tho mjnds of statesmen, not only here but in all self-governing; countries. He agreed that the success of the League of Nations depended, above all, on the British nation, who were in league already, and able to speak with one voice. He believed if they did, they \\jould hardly ever differ on matters of supreme importance with United States. Then the two great Anglo-Saxon Powers could make the League a success and secure the peace of tile world. The Imperial Government was being strongly pressed by all Dominions to hold an Imperial Conference as ioon as possible. He had hoped that the meeting would be held in 1920, but all agreed it must be postponed. till 1921, if it was to be a success, and to put the future constitutioal relations of the Empire on a good footing. There must be a meeting of practical Prime Ministers, though not exclusively so, and this would not be confused with a periodical Imperial Conference, which was distinct from it, in that it would be of the nature of a constituent Assembly, which would try to arrive at a basis upon which our relations with the Dominions in future would be conducted. It would be a

meeting of extraordinary importance, but pending its constitution, it was not desirable to put forward the particular scheme of action. Ho hoped it would not separate without providing an Empire with some organ of government based upon the recognition of complete independence, and the equality of it* different parties.