IMPERIAL RELATIONS.
CRITICISM OF REPORT. EQUALITY OE STATUS. “THE ONLY PERMANENT BOND.” LONDON, Dec. 8. In the House of Lords, Lord Parmoor drew attention to the Imperial Conference and criticised the report upon the relations between the units of the British Empire. He questioned whether it was wise to lay down general principles of equality before essential differences had been disposed of by inquiry., He asked whether freedom of association also meant freedom of separation. Earl Balfour, replying, said that Lord Parmoor seemed to have approached a difficult and complicated question from the wrong viewpoint. Ho could not imagine any policy from which he differed more profoundly than the suggestion that before laying down the general principles on which the Empire was now constituted all difficulties must be removed and all technicalities, settled. Could anything be more lawyer-like and less statesmanlike P Lord Balfour asked what would happen if the Dominions wished to separate? What sort of notice should be given? They might as well consider all the causes of divorce before deciding the problems of matrimony. Earl Balfour declared tnat that was the wrong way to work. The way to get rid of difficulties was for the Prime Ministers of all the Dominions to discuss the question in all aspects and agree on the broad principle .that no country was exercisable by any one self-governing part of the Empire over another. Foreign critics were disposed to say that, standing upon equality, the units of the Empire were bound to separate. His view was the opposite, that the British Empire was a more united organism than ever before. There could not be equality in function, however, for this must depend upon the circumstances of tho moment. “But this docs not conflict with the fundamental equality of status, which is the dnly permanent bond between the self-governing portions.”
Lord Parmoor, in withdrawing his motion, said that he was quite in agreement with Earl Balfour.—A. and N.Z. cable.
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Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 11, 10 December 1926, Page 7
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326IMPERIAL RELATIONS. Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 11, 10 December 1926, Page 7
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