The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1926. IMPERIAL AFFAIRS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 May 1926, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1926. IMPERIAL AFFAIRS.

Representatives of the British Commonwealth of Nations will meet in conference this year, remarks the “Lyttelton Times” to discuss freely, and without- reserve, problems of Imperial significance. The time when Great Britain claimed authority over her dependencies is now n matter of history; in fact, until comparatively recent years her chief fault lay not in undue domination but in the fact that some of her salesmen viewed them as national encumbrances, better forgotten or diplomatically ignored. But during the war, and especially at the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, the status of the overseas dominions was recognised before the world, and

the Imperial Conference will represent the self-governing parts of the Empire meeting as an association of nations. This altered status of the dominions brings for them new responsibilities and new obligations, and it can safely be assumed that in their new-found national strength there will be no display of impatience or intolerance, but rather a fresh and dispassionate outlook in the consideration of international problems that- can be solved only by the fullest co-opera-tion. But valuable as arc these Imperial Conferences, their infrequency and the absence of means other than cable and dispatch, for consultation between its members, leaves a serious break in the chain that should bind a great commonwealth. At. the last Conference it was agreed that each self-governing dominion was entitled to enter into relations with foreign Governments, where the matter affected itself only, but where other members of the Commonwealth were concerned, consultation should precede negotiations. Unfortunately the means for providing easy-consultation were not considered at the time, and plans for remedying this fundamental defect will probably occupy the earnest attention of the forth-coming Conference. It requires no prophetic foresight to realise that division in international relations among our peoples spells eventual disintegration. That there is a desire for closer cooperation between the component parts of this widely scattered Empire needs no stressing, and that they are held by intangible bonds of language, race and ideals is equally true. The ancient Greek colonists took with them fire from the sacred hearth of the mother city that in their new home was never extinguished, and the colonists from Britain carried with them across the seas live coals from the altar of the national ideals. And, to-day, there is something inspiring in the idea of representatives from her Tree but scattered nations meeting for the common good, anxious and willing to face readjustments of national relations in friendly and sympathetic conference. If there is any value in the Imperial connection it is that the free peoples of the British Commonwealth should stand united for ideas of freedom and international honesty of purpose.