EMPIRE AUTONOMY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 December 1939, Page 5

EMPIRE AUTONOMY

AUSTRALIAN REPRESENTATIVE IN WASHINGTON. NEW YORK PAPER'S COMMENT. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. NEW YORK, December 26. The New York “Herald-Tribune” in an editorial commenting on Mr Casey’s reported appointment as Australian Minister to Washington, says: "In an age when centralisation has been the rage and suppression of the freedom of small nations and minorities has become a major policy it is encouraging to see the unquestioned success accompanying the British policy of decentralisation in fostering the largest possible autonomy and selfGovernment for the Imperial units. “Even the tie through the ' British Crown has been tenuous, but few doubt it. is stronger than that binding the Austrians, Czechs and Poles to Germany. The British Empire’s strength resides in the weakness of its bonds.” The “New York Times” recently gave prominence to a report of the impending appointment of Mr Casey. Because officials are on holiday Slate Department comment is not available, but the Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” states that the appointment would occasion no surprise as Australia is the largest British Dominion not represented, and, in view of increasing Australian-American ( commercial and other relations, the appointment is viewed in Washington as a logical step.