The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, JULY 28, 1927. THE INSTITUTE OF PACIFIC RELATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 July 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, JULY 28, 1927. THE INSTITUTE OF PACIFIC RELATIONS.

The Institute of lbicitie 'Eolations which has been .sitting at Honolulu has been reviewing a large liumher of questions. more or loss affecting the peace of the Pacific littoral, and certainly of the world at large. Of the many papers read at the very representative Conference, those relating to Britain and the Empire, were of special note, and of quite peculiar interest. The reference to the Constitution of the British Empire and the connection between its component parts were dealt with lucidly. The British point of view found an able exponent in Mr Lionel Curtis. In a paper on “British Ideals and Aspirations.” Mr Curtis put forward the claim that “the world owes to England the principle of the Commonwealth.” Interpreted into more ordinary language. this means, considers the Auckland Star, that the permanent union of a numher of free self-governing communities in the British Imperial federation has paved to the world at largo that it is passible for Sovereign States to adjust their conflicting interests and work together under amicable and peaceful conditions for the common good. It is probable that many who disapprove of what they term Imperialism, without precisely ■defining; its meaning:, may decline to accept Mr Curti’ verdict as to tho true character of the British Empire. Yet it may well he argued that a great alliance of autonomous States which, without being bound together by spcyT

fir obligations, recognise their mutual responsibility tinil work together in a common cause. marks a long slop fnrv. aril in tlio direction of tliat inlernaliona! unity ami hitherto faintly foreshadowed by 11 if League of Nations. In answer to th'se "ho hold Unit tin* League. with its Covenant, are purely idealistic and Utopian conceptions. it may lie pointed, as Mr Curtis did to the British Umpire, and ask why the conditions which now happily hind the constituent members of onr Imperial Federation together should not ultimately heroine practicable possibilities for all the nations of (he world. The views submitted to the Conference by Mr Curtis is reived indireel support from an unexpected quarter. Mr Nadi, who is best known as organising seiretaiy of the New Zealand I.about' party, in comment ing upon the e oist it tit ion o! the Umpire, laid stress upon the intimate relations e\i - * ing hetwv'U our ov. it country and Ihilain. New Zealand, said Mr Nash, regards it sc! I' as an integral part of the Umpire. and its political con neelion with Britain is of the closest and most amicable kind. In matters of ioreign policy New Zealand rarely questions Britain's decision, ami Mr Nash—evidently .speaking, not for himself or his party, hut honestly representing the public opinion of New Zealand—even went so far as to inlorin the Conference that Xew Zealand approves of Britain’s policy in regard to the Singapore naval base. The Auckland paper congratulated Mr Xn.sli on iiis frankness and courage in dissociating himselt from liis political traditions and connections to stub an extent a- this. Further, it endorsed emphatically the assurance '‘.hull lie gave the Confcronce that this country, like ail the other self-governing Dominions, would strongly resent ally interference by Britain in its internal affairs. Whether Air Nash intended il or not, this statement covers an impliod criticism of Air Curtis. For Air Curtis, in li is numerous publications on Imperial questions, has never tfretl of reiterating that the Dominions earnestly desire a mote direct share of control over Britain’s foreign policy, and to secure this they would he prepared to surrender to an Imperial Council their right of internal taxation, so ns to raise funds for Imperial defence. AVe hold with Air .Xnsli that such a stirrender is wholly inconceivable, and while we think that Air Curtis is entirely mistaken in assuming that wo would pay a high price for tho right to interfere in foreign affairs, we are firmly convinced that no solution of j any of our Imperial problems will ever be reached along the lines that Air Curtis indicates. j