ALL SENIOR PARTNERS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12610, 22 November 1926, Page 7

ALL SENIOR PARTNERS

’ RELATIONSHIP OF BRITAIN AND DOMINIONS DEFINED

“THE END OF CROOKED THINKING 4

GOVERNORS DO NOT REPRESENT BRITISH GOVERNMENT

The decisions of the Imperial Conference, made after an attempt to define the relationship of Britain and the Dominions, are outlined below.

By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received November 30th. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. November 19. It was with n sense of intense satisfaction that the Prime Ministers separated this afternoon, conscious that they had placed beyond the reach of misunderstanding the whole range of inter-imperial relations, and achieved a degree of reulity in Umpire unity greater than ever before. There was not time alter the meeting to prepare a report for issue tonight. It is promised that the document w ill be of absorbing interest and importance, and will occupy more than three columns of newspaper space. It is understood that the following is a reliable forecast of the report: In it no new principle has been introduced. hut it merelv sets out the Stage reached in the Empire’s evolution. which has never previously been reduced to a joint agreement. It is declared that evolution is going on, and will go on, hut that one definite, final point has been reached and recognisedd as freely by Downing street as by all units, namely, the equalitv of status of all the self-governing parts of the Empire, who are autonomous communities, hound together by the fset that thev are full members of the Empire. A high-placed personage to-night said: ‘.‘This is the end of all the crooked thinking, which has heen responsible for some of tlie dissonant speeches heard during the last three years. This report will not mislead anyone who understands the Empire. Nobody need take the words and carefully examine them to see what they mean. It is sufficient to say that they really describe, perhaps more explicitly than before, what the Empire is.” It is understood that the passage in the report devoted to GovernorGeuerals contains no surprise, but a definition of their Excellencies as the representatives of the King, not of the British Government, and playing the same part in the Dominion constitutions as his Mnjestv does in the United Kingdom. KING IS HEAD OF EMPIRE Considerable attention has been paid to treaty matters, and the form of the preamble and the methods of signature adoped are based on the King as the head of the whole Empire. It has been agreed, further, to subscribe to and perfect the existing system laid down at the 1923 conference regarding the negotiation of treaties and prompt inter-communication with one another regarding movements and opinions in this connection.

In connection with treetiet, it is understood that the Dominions rest on the clause specifically exempting then from the Locarno Pact, and also that the Prime Minister’s mutually agreed that there should be consultation before completing European pacts in future.

(Received November 21, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON,' November 20. The inter-Iraperial Relations Committee reports that every self-govern-

ing member of the jsuapire is now master of its own destinies, subject to no compulsion whatever. Though every Dominion is the sole judge of the extent of its co-operation, no common cause will be thereby imperilled. The equality of stntus of Britain and the Dominions, therefore, is the root prim ciple governing inter-imperial rela> tions. but flexible machinery is re. quired to deal with questions of diplomacy and defence. The new title of the King, which omits “of the United was made necessary owing to the altered state of affairs following the establishment of the Free State as a Dominion.

The committee considers that an essential consequence of equality of Dominion status is that the Governor-General shall represent the Crown. Similarly, His Majesty not being the representative of the Imperial Government, the Governor-General cannot longer be regarded as the official channel of communication between the Imperial and Dominion Governments.

of communication between the Imperial and Dominion Governments. Details will be settled as early as possible after the Imperial Conference’s work is completed on various points necessitating clarification in connection with Dominion legislation, particularly in regard -to laws submitted for* His Majesty’s pleasure. Regarding differences of legislative competence between the Imperial and the Dominion Parliaments, these were .considered, but were left for expert guidance. The right of each Dominion to advise the Crown regarding its own affairs was recognised. AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE The committee recommends that Britain and the Dominions constitute an advisory committee dealing with the Crown’s assent to legislation, extraterritorial operation of Dominions legislation, and any change in - the Colonial Laws Validity Act, in view of the existing inter-imperial relations. It was decided to remit merchant shipping legislation to a special subconference, sitting simultaneously with the aforementioned expert committee. Any changes in connection with Privy Council appeals will he given effect only after consultation. Regarding treaties, any Government must obtain the other Governments' assent before involving them in active obligations. Where all the Governments of the Empire ratify a treaty, the initiating Government may assume that the Government which has had full opportunity ' of indicating its attitude, and has not commented adversely, concurs in the ratification. The method of using in the preamble of the League of Nations treaties the term' “British Empire,” tends to obscurity and misunderstanding, for which reason all treaties, whether under the auspices of the League or otherwise, should be made in the name of the heads of the States. If a treaty is made in the name of the King it should be as a symbol of the special relationship between the different parts of the Empire.