FOREIGN RELATIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 September 1933, Page 5

FOREIGN RELATIONS

EMPIRE MATTERS DOMINIONS’ PLAN NOT FEASIBLE. (United Association—By Electric Teiegraph—Copyright.) TORONTO, September 15. The Australian delegates at the British Commonwealth Relations Conference to-day, introduced the question of the creation of i an : j intra-Em-pire secretariat, with offices at London, to handle all foreign relations questions between Britain and the Dominions. Delegates pointed out that while they favoured sudi an agency to act", as an Empire Foreign Office, they did not represent the unanimous viewpoint of their . countries. A considerable debate revealed that practically all, groups at the conference considered the plan not to he feasible. It was contended, that there was danger in, creating such a body, because once- it was,, in .existence there was not. the possibility that the resident agents would be,, looking around for things to do..which .would be undesirable.

A further suggestion, forthcoming was that if. the High Commissioners’ status were, raised, so that they could act in a diplomatic, . capacity, there would then be in London, a group of commissioners w;ho would ho able to meet in times of emergency, and make personal .contacts between the respective Governments. Other delegates argued-that ,if such a ! group were formed, there should be nothing of a fixed nature about it. Fears that the Empire might be made the instrument for the -perpetuation of the present .economic system were voiced by a Canadian delegate of ad vanned',politicaL-wien's, 1 and they drew from • members of the British delegation a statement' that, on the contrary, i close association of the nations in the Empire might well lead to closer; cooperation between radical political., .groups -in various Empire countries.,.; v .yw. ’ ;

The conference considered the positions; of .the -' Governors-General in a new /Empire -constitutional scheme, general agreement was< expressed that the instructions that were given to the .Governor-General of Canada, as drawn up for use prior to the time when the Dominions became equal partners with the United Kingdom; were not only unnecessary, but out of keeping with, the new'dignity?” attach'd to a Governor-General’s office! A Governorfeneral now stood in .the-same relation to the Parliament and Government of Canada as the King did to the Parliament ! and Government of the United Kingdom. - ; ' '