WESTMINSTER STATUTE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 81, 26 November 1931, Page 5

WESTMINSTER STATUTE

(Press Assn.-

FASS.ED BY GOMMONS ! members show doubts " " of measure's wisdom "U-NITY BASED ON FAITH"

— By Telegraph — O -pyrlght).

Rec. Nov. 25, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, Tuesday;. , Sir G, B. Hurst (Conservative) moved the first amendnient to the Statute of Westminster, designed to prevent any Dominion from passing any law having extra-territorial operation conflicting with British laws, or. other Dominioh laws or international laws. The amendment was rejected without division. Major L. Hore-Belisha, replying to a motion to postpone the operatipn of the clause de^ling with the Dominions' powers in relation to merchant shfpping until the convention had heen ratified, said the merchant ship agreemen^; was apparehtly approvpd throughput the Empire, with a slight difference in New Zealand, which it was hoped would soon be adjusted. Mr. Somerville moved for a year's postponement of the operation of the Bill, stating that Australia was halfhearted about it; Tasmania and West- ; ern Australia protested against the Statute; New Zealand did not seem to want it, and Canada was lukewarm. It was only wanted by. South Africa and Ireland for electoral purposes, he said. Mr. H. L. Boyce ( Conservative). supporting the amendment, said it

would be more opportune to pass a eonstructive Bill uniting the Empire after the Imperial Economic Cohference had achieved Empire economic unity. Britain Committed Mr. J. H. Thomas (Dominions Secretary) said that Great Britain at the last imperial Ponfergnce was committed to every Dominion to carry out the agreement and ought to implement it to enable everyone to gst down tp the fundamental economic prohlems. It would be a mistake for the British Parliament to take sides in, differences between the Australian Federal and State authorities. The amendment was withdrawn. Mr. Boyce, moving to amend Olause 10 to provide that the Dominion Parliaments in Australia, New Zealand and New Foundland might at any time revoke the adoption of" Sec'tions 2 and 6, stated that the objeet was to remove the possibility of donbt that the Australian sovereign status was in any way affected by the Bill. .Sir Thomas Inskip accepted the amendment, which was adopted. Colonel J. Gretton (Conservative) •

in moving a new clause to provide that nothing in the Bill should authori§.e the Irish Free State legislature to repeal, amend or qlter the AngloIrish Treaty, said that without this provision the Irish separatists could legally take any steps they desired. Mr. Thomas said that nothing would be more fatal to Imperial unity than differentiation between the Dominions. The Free State had not a long record, but there was no mpre suitable Government in the Empire. Mr. Cosgrove after the debate last week had written to Mr. MacDonald stating that the maintenance of the present happy Anglo-Irish relations was absolutely dependent on the aeceptance of each other's faith. Would Safeguard Nothing Mr. Thomas added that the amendment would saf eguard nothing. If the Free State elected a government determined to -break the Treaty, the amendment would do nothing to stop it. The passing of the amendment

would only blazon to the world that the British Goyernment could not trust the Irish people. The Government cpuld not accept the amendment. Sir Austen Chamberlain said that as a signatory to the Irish Treaty he desired to say that he was satisfied with Mr. Gosgrove's public announcement that the Treaty was an agreement between the two nations, standing irrespective of statutory authority upon mutual faith and could only be altered by common consent and in a spirit of confidence and faith. He would support the Government. Mr. Winston Churchill said that his opposition to the Bill had in no way aiterpd. He had the greatest respect and admiration of Mr Cosgrove for his faithful adherence to the Treaty, but the point raised could not he settled by onp individual's assurance. The Free State Government was in a precarious position, and it had to adopt measures more

severe than any other British Domin- : ion. The Treaty might hecome a matter of grave erisis and they would , be responsible if they in^ any way i weakened the British Imperial interest; therein. ■ Mr. Baldwin declarea tnat the amendment was f utile as a means of : securing the performance of the measures desired. > Insistence on it - would be disastrous to the whole Em- i pire The crux of the question was : Imperial relationship. The Dominions. had all been consulted regarding the : Statute. Australja and Canada sought special conditions, but South Africa and Ireland asked for no special provision because they helieved all the necessary protection rested'in their. constitution and that a restrictive clause would be a reflection on their good faith! _ r x Mr. George Lansbury (Labour) , supported the Government. He said that Lahonr believed that Ireland should he trusted and he dealt with exactly the same as the other Dominions. , , , The amendment was deieated by 350 votes to 50 and the Bill was read a third time.