The Daily News. MONDAY, JULY 18, 1921. IMPERIAL FOREIGN POLICY.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 July 1921, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, JULY 18, 1921. IMPERIAL FOREIGN POLICY.

The dieassion which took place at the Premiers’ Conference, relative to the best means whereby the voice of the Empire can be most effectively heard in connection with foreign policy, marks the new phase of Imperial relations upon which the Dominions have entered as co-partners with the Motherland. It. can readily be understood that no matter which Britain and the Empire has to deal with contains such infinite difficulties and needs such high qualities of statesmanship as does that of foreign affairs. An error of judgment or foresight in connection with the domestic matters of any country can be remedied, but so delicate are the ramifications of foreign policy that a slight error may lead to war or serious complications that may have a far-reaching effect. The British Foreign Office is the home of diplomacy; its traditions are almost sacred, and its methods, at times, are incomprehensible to the uninitiated, yet running through the whole system is a definite purpose—the upholding of British ideals, honor and ..prestige, and the avoidance of friction by every means that can be conceived. At times of crisis the strain on the Foreign Office is intense, and it is in such circumstances that the calm, detached and practical common-sense of the statesmen of the Dominion would be of the utmost service. Moreover, it is a cardinal principle of unity that the whole of the Empire should work together, be one in aims and policy, one in peace and war, one in effort to preserve goodwill, the maintenance of freedom and justice. If it could be so arranged that all questions relating to foreign affairs could be considered at certain fixed periods there would be some justification for the proposed Constitutional Conference, but it is obvious that, from the mere nature of foreign affairs, questions needing immediate consideration and decision must constantly arise, for it is the unexpected which frequently happens. It is not surprising, therefore, that the majority of the Dominions’ Premiers consider the present system is more elastic and more capable of improvement than any form of federation or written constitution. In these days the means of communication between the Dominions and the Motherland are such as to meet most requirements,, though they are capable of considerable improvement. It is in the direction of improving and accelerating these means that the Empire should concentrate with the view to forming a special or central clearing house in charge of Imperial officials, so that matters of moment could be dealt with speedily and effectively by the collection and dissemination of the views of the Empire units on all foreign matters arising from time to time. The starting point of this system would naturally be Britain, as would lie the final action. It may be, urged that no decision on foreign affairs is possible without having access to the information which the secret service supplies to the Foreign Office, as well as the views of the diplomatic corps, but even so it ! would be possible to convey an intelligible precis of this information from time to time to the Dominions’ Governments. This aspect of the problem naturally raises the- question of whether the Dominions .whiob have acquired

the status of nationhood should not be diplomatically represented at foreign capitals, not only to keep abreast of all movements that may affect the Empire, but also to foster trade and commerce. Possibly the time is not ripe for such an important step to he taken, but it may eventuate in the not distant future, and is capable of achieving much benefit. Meanwhile the matter of cable services of news touched upon by Lord Burnham is well deserving of serious attention. There is much truth in his contention that American and French systems of propaganda by Press cables provide facilities which give tremendous advantages over the system in vogue in the Empire, which is “strangled by high cable rates and lack of adequate facilities.” The whole system of news distribution over the Empire needs overhauling and placing on a sound and effective basis. It is on the cable service, and not on wireless, that the Dominions must depend for information of a secret nature, but that is no reason why far greater use should not be made of ethergrams than is the case at present, especially as the wireless interests are said to be prepared to provide a rate exactly half of the'lowest cable tariff. The Conference will do well to evolve a practical solution of this matter, for it has a most important bearing on the future of the Empire. ,