The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1920. A COUNCIL OF EMPIRE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3487, 15 May 1920, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE.

SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1920. A COUNCIL OF EMPIRE.

With which is incorporated “'The‘Taihape Post and W'aimaz<ialo News,"

back upon any public question unless jit be in seeking experience for guid!ance in the future. No good purpose would be served in reverting back to gsome fifteen or twenty years ago when farseeing men, who seemed to [visualise the future of the British _.pire-more clearly than others, strong{ly advocated the setting .up -of a lCouncil of Empire with a view to Jsecuring the adoption of more perfect rsystems of inter-Dominion trade, and -to ensure the utmost uniformity of !opinion with regard to the Empires’ -foreign policy. Spontaneous and ‘hearty as the response of the Domin.ions was to the tocsin of Empire danger, all must agree that no financial ‘ or other provision had been pre- _ arranged for any such zoccasion. Had a Council of Empire been established, as was persistently urged as necessary for keeping the Empire together, >.'it is more than probable plans would I have been evolved and adopted for _ readiness as regards men, equipment ; and finance_ The present shortage of ushipping, of other public services, of the necessaries of life, of other commodities to the rapid reconstruction ‘of trade, production and society are ' the result of Britain~’s unpreparedness "for war, and more so, from Br'itain’s persistent refusal to admit Doniinion ‘representatives to confidence and de[liberation affecting matters which lwere likely to prove more threatening ‘and destructive to scattered parts of ithe ‘Empire than to Britain. Under {the present control of Empire defence “New Zealand could be sacked and ’ destroyed by a prepared enemy before adequate help from the heart of the [Empire could render assistance. That assistance would assuredly come, nojth'ing' more certain, but what would l be ‘its ‘value after ruthless destruction and ‘looting, as compared with a deifence, ample and adequate £5 repel the class of enemy the times and occasion the Empire in Council would be led to expect? But defence is not 'the greatest nor the only question; it i {has been forced upon our sensivbilities ‘and common understanding that sys-E I terns of trade have become more destructive -and more effective and thortough. in conquest of other lands than! lwnr by sword and cannon. There ‘are international trade wars in which one country systematically attacks Fathers with 1!, View to complete conxquest, and there is daily experience at this present time of the acCul'sedness of trading civil war, a war in which those in trade and finance are endeavouring to enthrall and enslave ‘their fellow citizens—the masses of the people. The more mighty, wealthy and hardened of traders in the Empire -would not -hesitate to open the far-off Dominions to the freedom of the coloured races in an effort to secure cheap labour, but there are yet those who are humane and loyal’ to race and Empire who will oppose to the utmost of their strength suchl surrender of the land Britons have‘ rescued from the wild state, cultivated and made immensely capable of ‘ wealth. production. A man’s, or a class loyalty is not measuralble by 'display of flags, or by-the shouting of hurrahs, but it is distinguishable to a 5 fine point in the national and international policy he advocates and works i for. Statesmen and people, generally, 1

of Bfitain were surprised by the sud-

demiess with which the Empire wasl precipitated into a great War, greatel‘ than in their unpreparedness and comparative isolation they "could have anticipated, but they are still more chagrined and deeply impressed With the potency for ill of modern trading warfare, brought about chiefly by 3 most astounding development‘ of the civil aspect of trade warfare. AS Germany proved to completeness that even the great British Empire Was conquerable by means of a bloodless] trade war, so it is undeniable at this‘ moment that civil trade war is being waged that ,if persisted in, and does’ not evoke a spirit of revolution, mustl assuredly end in one class completely; enslaving the masses. From a: lengthy cable message received. yesterday it is disclosed that the Australian ‘Commonwealth has again raised the Council of Empire ‘question, and statesmen who hitherto have opposed admitting the D/‘ominions into Empire partnership, are now discovered urging that the setting up of an »Empire “Council is indispensible, an absolute :necessity. It is fully recognised 263' ‘Lord Milner and his political associiates that the attitude of Britain toLward other units of Empire which [made the "United tsates an independ.'ent nation is just as prejudicial to ‘Empire unity to-day as hitherto; that "the Anglo-Saxon will not tolerate being used by any system of governlment "in which he has not a determin.ing voice, and they are now found advocating that an assemblage, a (‘louncil of Empire be summoned at the earliest moment. The Hon. W. A. "Watt, at a meeting of the Empire Par’liamen't'ary Association, made it quite "understandable that Australia would demand a voice in all Empire questions of foreign policy. He defended the “White Australia?’ policy, and said, “if there are to be nego-tiations ‘between Britain and the Mikado, Australia wants her views consulted and registered; we must, at all hazards, preserve the Spirit of the Empire, League of Nations or no League of Nations.” He emphasised the suggestion that the Dominions were ‘jealous of their local autonomy, which would not admit of infraction or ‘limitation. He was convinced of the need for the Empire's voice in international affairs coming from one pair -of lips, bearing the opinions of overseas dominions as well as those of the Motherland, and he stated, ‘most emphatically, that the Empire to-day presented problems calling for most ,earnest thought. Mr Watt says that ‘Australia desires to see the old sign taken down and one bearing the inscription, John Bull and Co., hoisted into its place. Owing to the war, commercialism has been enabled to force itself into a. powerfully dominating position, and it is subject of serious discussion in some leading British newspapers as a rampant {spirit of greed that respects neither ’Empi.re, Dominions nor society, every‘thing must be wrecked that stands in ;its way. The spirit that precipitatied. the war for freedom from British ‘greed which severed. the United States from the British Empire ‘is as irampant and as dangerous to lEmpire ,unity and peace to-day. ‘The ‘extortion of profit in those days was the sole cause of a revolution by .one part of the Empire -against the Mother‘land; and that revolution is ‘now only barked -back to as a reminder ‘that the Anglo-Saxon in Australia and New Zealand to-day will no more tolerate present disaster-working commercialism than the colonists of America did. There is a civil trade-war raging in -this Dominion at the present moment, i a campaign in which finance and trade j ‘have not nearly reached their most‘ ruthless and renlorseTess efforts to} impoverish, enthrall and enslave the masses. It is a war that is tblindlyl being prosecuted; it is not for a moment thought that a long-suffering people possess the spirit of revolt, and the screw of extortion will be,

Igiven many turns during the coming winter, which may be productive of unexpected consequences. Masters of the ‘Commercialist cult wheedled the farming community into their craft until they were able to control the marketing of their produce, and now they are jettisoning the farmer; they have no further use for him but to cast him overboard amongst the masses to be exploited. Everything pertaining to meat and wool is certain to continue a downward price course. This country’s exports have decreased in volume and they are going to present little less than a .slump in value. America is waging a trade rwar against the British Empire, while‘ ian internicine struggle in all units of‘ \the Empire is being waged with 2113-‘ ipalling audacity, and it is yet problematical whether tradewar, international and civil, will not be a far greater menace to civilisation than the onslaught of the European Cen-C tral Powers proved to be‘ It is safe’ to say that had a Council of Empire‘ been__establi.shec_’. in the days of Premier Seddon, «who strongly urged it, the I cause of the masses would not have been sacrificed to the greed of com-' mercialism‘. ' A . I