The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER. 24, 1926. SEATS AT GENEVA.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 September 1926, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER. 24, 1926. SEATS AT GENEVA.

Tixe question of seats with votes for the British Dominions at the League of Nation meetings at Geneva has become suddenly a great political issue. Idealism in politics has an awkward way of working out very badly in practiceThis is instan'-ed, particularly, re marks the “Sun” o: Christchurch, by the claims of British D minions at Geneva for separate representation on the Council of the 1. segue cl Nations On that occasion the Irish Free State passed a keen demand and, on principle, was supported by Canada, Sir George Foster, the Canadian delegate, having made it clear that, while his country was not claiming a seat, her rights to representation were equal to those of any of the fifty-six members of the League. Fortunately, because of the opportunity provided for further consideration of a subject that bristles with difficulties, the League of Nations Assembly rejected the Irish Free State’s claim and allotted the nine non-per-manent seats on the enlarged Council to what are termed small sovereign States in Europe, Latin-America, and the Far East. It is true that the IrisTT demand did not- break new ground; it merely turned over a patch of thin

soil which, when previously broken', failed, to promise a good yield. Similar claims have been made by other parts of the Empire, but merely as a “feeler.” Needless to say, these were not taken seriously by the League Assembly. In 1922 and again in 1923, India received two votes in support of her claim for separate representation, while on each of two successive occasions she got only one vote. Canada secured one vote in -1923, and, according to a .somewhat eontrutlictory report from Geneva', two votes last week, as compared with ten votes lor the Irish Free State. Perhaps it would not matter very much from an international point of view if all the Dominions, in addition to Great Britain being a permanent member, were given seats at the Council table, but where is the exercise of the new status for the Dominions to end? Such membership involves the giving of satisfactory guarantees of intention to accept and honour international obligations and any League regulations concerning means of welfare to ensure peace. It is easy to say that, it Great Britain, as one of the major Powers iirtlie League, became involved in essential war against disturbers of the peace, the whole Empire would again step into the battle-line, but it must be recognised that, since the World War, the national temper in certain Dominions has changed toward the wrong side of Empire unity. When the Peace Conference was confronted with the array of fourteen plenipotentiary representatives of the British Empire, as against live only representing each of the other groat Powers, the European members politely resented the disproportionate balance of British voting strength. A compromise was essential, and the Dominions were given representation on the panel system in tile Empire delegation. The Dominions were not given the status of separate nations. The same policy should ho followed at Geneva, otherwise British representation will run the risk of becoming; confused with a danger of disruption of Empire unity. No doubt the subject will lie threshed out at the Imperial Conference, lint on the face of it, seeing that Great Britain is so well established on the League Council carrying such sway, it does not appear over nyiterial that tlie Dominions loyally attached to the Empire should be specially attached to the League. If the Imperial Conference produces a good understanding between the Motherland and the Dominions, matters such as the League of Nations, can well be left to the care of Great Britain. Most of the Dominions have sufficient domestic politics to attend to, without venturing rashly into a sea of international politics adding enormously to the burden of colonial gyernment. We should say that New Zealand at all events would be quite prepared to leave the job of representation at the League Council to Great Britain.