THE COLONIAL OFFICE.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 June 1925, Page 4

THE COLONIAL OFFICE.

I lON. AM ELY'S SPEECH. [Au-tralia A Cable Association.] . LONDON. June 23. u o-u New Zealand annual dinner, .I', Sk-cretarv of Stale for the Dominions. Mr Ame ry. n-cd- an hnpnrtaut reference to ll'.e cliaiiges at the (<mmj■. 1 (iMi.e, which he described as a step lor a long-due and possibly an overdue change. There had been a process nf evolution since Mr A. Deakin s resolution was submitted to the Imperial Conference in 1!.'07, and reintroduced j„ 1011. It did not then meet with lhe support of the ( olonial Office, and was not press-.'i!. Since then the case f ( ,l- rl.ur division as between the work of consultation of the Colonics had grown more pressing. The Hovern-im-nt hail gone beyond the PHI resolution . It had established separate Secretaries far State, although it had vested them in the same person for the purposes of convenience. They might in future be held l.v separate persons, or l.v some other ministers whose duties were not so heavy. Ho disagreed with the suggestion that the Departmental aspect of the Dominions’ work should be milled to the work of the already overburdened Crime Minister. That suggestion would deprive the latter ol tin- a-siM aw of a responsible Cabinet colleague, who was able to ).;(-up Imperial issues ofloetively ropre,,.Mled in Parliament, and in the Cabinet. and per- nun Ily to conduct relationships with the D.nni,lions rcpi-e----seutal ives.

.Mr Amery said ho hoped that wlu-n 11.0 change was effectively working, ii now Id to nossiblo lor Intu I■ t visit Alis--1 ralia and Now Zealand during 1!)20. 110 suggested that tho Dominions would eventually follow suit, and would delegate their Imperial relations to a special minister.

Boi'erring to the dillicnltios in ennnootion with adequate consultation, he pointed out that ho had hoped lor an Empire Conference oil the (lonova Protocol, hut difficulties had rendered it impossible. If problems could not he solved hv personal consultation, they must he solved in the host way made possible hv correspondence, the British Government takin.tr such responsibility as it felt was its duty towards the Empire, after ascertaining, as far as possible, the views of every part of the Empire. If the present great opportunity for stabilising the peace of Europe slipped away, the. Imperial Government would he responsible not only to tho people of Britain, hut of the whole Kmpire for the possible dangers and war difficulties.