EMPIRE UNITY.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1923, Page 3

EMPIRE UNITY.

AMBASSADORS IN PLACE OF COMMISSIONERS. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. (Received this day at 9.15 a.in.) LONDON, May 29. The newspaper “Round Table" apropos to the Imperial Conference, is discussing how the defects in the present system of consultation between the Dominions and Mother Country could lie made more effective and more real.

The paper says: “Owing to the fact that the High Commissioners are overburdened with work of iv commercial and consular character, and the Gov- * crnor-Gcnernls arc not specially selected because of their ability to inform the Colonial Office about the political opinions in their Dominions, the median ism for mutual information between tho Dominions and Britain is less effective than between foreign countries. The foreign office conducts its business in almost total ignorance about the opinion of the Dominions. The newspapers consider that the system of Imperial co-operation would only work smoothly if the Commonwealth of the British nations adopt a quasi diplomatic system, and men of the same character as ambassadors appointed to specialise in political and economic observation. While they should lie disassociated From controversial politics such men could give their Governments knowledge and if any Dominion Government disapproved of any foreign policy it could dissent in time to get tho policy modified or the matter ventilated in Parliament. We would welcome the increasing activity of the Dominion governments is international affairs provided that the machinery for < oonsultation was also perfected. At present Britain is left to carry the international burden alone. The Empire prides itself on having to lead the world along the road of individual freedom by creating the first Commonwealth where the law and Government was made amenable to popular control. Are wo going to lead it along the road to peace by, providing the nations can also find, sueli freedom in constitutional unity under the reign and law which they themselves control."