The Daily News. THURSDAY, JULY 1, 1920. IN CLOSER TOUCH.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 July 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, JULY 1, 1920. IN CLOSER TOUCH.

The recent statement made in the House of Lords by Lord Milner, in reply to Lord Charnwood, who drew attention to the need for devising machinery to ensure continuous consultation between the different parts of the Empire, should receive the most careful attention of the British Cabinet and the Cabinets of the various Dominions. The object Lord Milner has in view is that means should be devised to make the influence of the Empire as a whole, as distinct from the United Kingdom, continuously effective in the councils of the world, much in the same way as was evidenced by the j participation, of Empire delegates in the deliberations of the Imperial War Cabinet, which was as complete an executive of the whole Empire as could possibly be conceived. Lord Charnwood performed a useful service by bringing forward this important matter, which, under the present circumstances whereby the League of Nations is, owing to the attitude of the United States Senate, of little practical value, has a far greater significance than appears on the surface. Lord Milner agrees that the success of the League depends above all on the British nations (the Dominions having attained individual nationhood under the League) who are already in the League, and able to speak with one voice, and he believes that the two great Anglo-Saxon Powers—Greater Britain and America—could make the League a success and secure the peace of the world. There is no doubt that such a powerful combination could, if all the parties were heart and soul to work together for that end, but it "is to be feared that the mere suggestion of such a pact will serve to increase, rather than allay, the strong opposition of the United States Senate to joining the League. America's traditional policy of non-'interventioa does not hold out much hope of her consenting to join hands with Greater Britain in securing the peace of the world, unless through the means of persuasion as opposed to coercion. That phase of the question does not, however, affect the desirability of continuous consultation between the Motherland and her partners in the Empire, and emphasis is given to this need by the strong pressure on the Imperial Government by all the Dominions to hold an Imperial Conference as soon as possible, Commenting on this method of consultation, Lord Milner admitted that the Imperial Conference had been a valuable instrument iu,

pulling the Empire together, but he considered it was very far from being perfect, owing to the long interval between the conferences preventing them from ensuring that the strength of the Empire was continuously brought to bear upon the direction of the affairs of the world in the way in which the powers of any unified government could be exercised. That view is perfectly sound as applied to international affairs, and it in no way interferes with the principles of self-government of the various Dominions. The only suggestion put forward by Lofd Milner to place the future constitutional relations of the Empire on a good footing, was the institution of gatherings, practically, but not exclusively, consisting of Prime Ministers, which would be of the nature of a Constituent Assembly, and distinct, from the periodical j Imperial Conference. Appa?-ent-ly the proposal for an Imperial Cabinet composed of British and Dominions' Ministers, has fallen through, yet it had manifest advantages over a system that would necessitate Dominion Premiers wasting valuable time and expense in frequently travelling to and from Britain, when the business could be as efficiently performed by the High Commissioners, the selection of whom could be made with special reference to their fitness for the duties which the suggested Constituent Assembly would be called upon to administer. That there should be close touch continuously between the Senior and Junior partners of the Empire on all Imperial matters must be admitted, and that can only be actually accomplished by the Dominions haying a Minister (who would also be High Commissioner) resident in London. The cable service would do the rest. Probably Lord Milner has merely formulated his suggestion with a view to enabling the Dominions' Cabinets to arrive at a conclusion on the matter before the next Imperial Conference. It is fair to assume that the British Government would, agree to any practical scheme of unification that the Dominions may suggest.