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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TELEC.O. 885
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ALLY,WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH--NOT TO BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
POLITICAL RELATIONS.
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to take advantage of your presence to force upon you discussions on which On the other hand we are you might be unwilling at this moment to enter. open to consider in the most friendly and the most favourable way any representations which may be made to us by the representatives of the self-governing Colonies, having regard to the present or the future relations between the different parts of the Empire, and in this respect we are in the position of those who desire rather to learn views than to press ours upon you. I might, I think, upon this sit down and invite your opinions, but it has been suggested to me, and it seems reasonable to suppose, that it might be convenient to you at this, our pre- liminary meeting, if I were to state as briefly as I can the subjects which appear to us to be most worthy of our joint consideration, and then it will be would for you to say whether these subjects, or any of them, are such as you like to consider more formally and in detail, in which case I hope we may will state arrange for subsequent interviews with that object; but to-day for your consideration a list of subjects, and I will ask you to give me your views as to the way in which they should subsequently be dealt with.
POLITICAL RELATIONS.
Now, gentlemen, undoubtedly the greatest, the most important, and at the same time the most difficult of all the subjects which we could consider is the question of the future relations, political and commercial, between the self- governing Colonies and the United Kingdom. I do not think that it is necessary for me to argue at all upon the advantages of such closer union. Strong as is the bond of sentiment, and impossible as it would be to establish any kind of relations unless that bond of sentiment existed, I believe we all feel that it would be desirable to take advantage of it, and to still further tighten the ties which bind us together. In this country, at all events, I may truly say that the idea of federation is in the air. Whether with you it has gone as far, it is for you to say, and it is also for you to consider whether we can give any practical application to the principle. It may well be that the time is hardly ripe for anything definite in this regard. It is quite true that our own con- stitution and your constitutions have all been the subject of very slow growth and that they are all the stronger because they have been gradually consoli- dated, and so perhaps with Imperial Federation: if it is ever to be accomplished it will be only after the lapse of a considerable time and only by gradual steps.
And undoubtedly one of those steps to which we must all attach very great importance is the grouping of the Colonies. We rejoice in this country that Canada has already shown the way, with results which everyone has seen have conduced greatly to her strength and to her prosperity. We observe, with the most lively interest, the proceedings which We know that in South are taking place in Australia with the sarne view.
African politics the same idea has bulked very largely in the past, and probably will come to the front again. In regard to all these matters it is not for us to offer advice; it is not for us to press upon you in any shape our interference or our assistance. If it be possible for us in any way to help you to give effect to your own desires, I need not say that we are entirely at your service; but, in the meanwhile, I can assure you, on behalf, I am sure, of the people of this country that we most heartily wish success to your efforts, believing, as I have said, that it will, in your case, as it has already done in the case of Canada, conduce to your prosperity and to your power. But as regards the larger question, and anything in the nature of federation of the Empire, the subject seems to me to depend entirely upon the feeling which exists in the Colonies themselves. Here you will be met half way. The question is whether up to the present time there is such a genuine popular demand for closer union as would justify us in considering practical proposals to give it shape.
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I feel that there is a real necessity for some better machinery of consultation between the self-governing colonies and the mother country, and it has sometimes struck me-I offer it now merely as a personal suggestion-that it might be feasible to create a great council
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of the Empire to which the Colonies would send representative plenipoten- tiaries-not mere delegates who were unable to speak in their name, without further reference to their respective Governments, but persons who by their position in the Colonies, by their representative character, and by their close touch with Colonial feeling, would be able, upon all subjects submitted to them, to give really effective and valuable advice. If such a council were to be created it would at once assume an immense importance, and it is It might perfectly evident that it might develop into something still greater. slowly grow to that Federal Council to which we must always look forward as our ultimate ideal.
And to a council of this kind would be committed, in the first instance, the discussion of all minor subjects of common interest, and their opinion would be taken and would weigh most materially in the balance before any decision were come to either by this country or by the legislatures of the several Colonies in regard to such matters.
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There is only one point in reference to this which it is absolutely necessary that we all should bear in mind. It be that the time has come, and if not I believe it will come, when the Colonies would desire to substitute for the slight relationship which at present exists a true partnership, and in that case they will want their share in the management of the Empire which we like to think is as much theirs as it is ours. But, of course, with the privilege of management and of control would also' come the obligation and the responsibility. There will come some form of contribution towards the expense for objects which we shall have in common. That, I say, is self- evident, but it is to be borne in mind, even in these early stages of the consideration of the subject.
Now, gentlemen, in connection with this subject we have already made a small advance, upon which I congratulate myself, since it was accomplished during my term of office, though it was prepared by my predecessors, and it The Judicial Committee of the may have in the future important results.
Privy Council is the great Judicial Court of Appeal of the Empire. It is the nearest approach, the closest analogy, to the Supreme Court of the United States. It is a body of almost universal and world-wide reputation and authority, and it is our desire naturally, in pursuit of the ideas which I am venturing to put before you, to increase its authority, if that be possible, and to give it a more représentative character, and with that view we have most gladly secured the appointment as Privy Councillors of distinguished Judges from the courts of Canada, of Australia, and of South Africa, and they now will take their seats on equal terms with the other members of the Judicial Committee. Well, gentlemen, that is a good beginning, but I do not think that you can feel that at present the arrangement is on a permanent footing. There are objections to the present system which will present themselves to every mind. The Judges who have been chosen have hitherto been Judges who are still in active practice. That_at_the outset raises a considerable difficulty. It will be difficult for these Judges, even if it were consistent with our general idea of what is right, to take part in appeals in regard to cases upon which they have already decided. And another difficulty is that by the necessity of their position the greater part of their time will be spent in the colonies from which they come. They will only be here for indefinite periods, and, as it were on casual occasions. It is impossible to arrange the business of the Privy Council or to delay the suitors to meet their convenience, and the result of that is that though they would sit as Judges of the Privy Council, it may very often happen that they would not be present or be able to serve precisely on the occasions on which they might be most useful. Now all that could be altered by the Colonies themselves, and this is one of the subjects which I recommend to your attention. If these gentlemen were appointed solely and entirely for the purpose of representing the groups of Colonies on the Privy Council, they could reside permanently in this country, and not being themselves actively engaged in judicial work at home, they could sit and assist the Privy Council in all cases in which their respective Colonies were engaged; and I think this would go very far to strengthen the position of the Privy Council, and at the same time to give to all the Colonies a security that justice would be done
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POLITICAL
RELATIONS.