Deputy Johnson asked me to give some indication as to what our attitude would be at the Imperial Conference and how we stand in regard to certain statements made by representatives of other Dominions in other places. I think I have said before that Dominion status might be described as adolescent but not entirely adult. I think equality is recognised. The non-implementation can be recognised as existing in three distinct spheres. Under one heading is the office of the Governor-General. The office originally was that of a representative of the Colonial Office, as it was then. Although the Governor-General's office has evolved entirely from that, there are still existing certain anomalies reminiscent of it. I think these anomalies should be removed. Another thing is that although the equality of status is recognised, there has been, so far as I know, practically no exercise of extra territorial powers. I think extra territorial powers should be possessed and exercised, not merely by one member of the Commonwealth, but by all co-equal members of the Commonwealth. The third general heading is that it should be made clear, beyond any doubt, not only in principle but in every detail of implementation, that in so far as the work of the Government of any individual Dominion is concerned, no one should possess power to have any say in regard to, to interfere with, or veto the work of that Dominion, except the Government of that Dominion. I think those three headings, more or less, cover every important matter that Deputy Johnson could have had in mind.
Deputy Hogan suggests that I mentioned the Imperial Conference had powers. The Imperial Conference has no powers whatsoever; but nations working together find it useful to come together at times and consider any difficulties that may arise in their so working. I do not think it has the power exactly to define matters, but where anomalies exist the representatives of the Governments have the power to agree that it is time these anomalies were done away with. I do not think they can all be done away with at any one Imperial Conference; but in friendly council the representatives of the Government can agree that the full implementation of equality should now be exercised, in so far as it can be exercised at present, without introducing anything particularly revolutionary, but at the same time indicating the process of growth and of rapid growth.
Deputy Hogan also referred to the status of Government super-imposed on members of the British Commonwealth of Nations. The only representatives who can have anything to say in regard to Dominion status are the representatives of the Dominions, and amongst the Dominions I include Great Britain. The Deputy also referred to the predominant partner. There is no predominant partner where there is equality. There is the basic fact, namely, that Great Britain is most powerful militarily, financially, and economically; necessarily Great Britain carries most weight.
The Deputy suggested that the best way of indicating our status would be to stay away from the conference. Unfortunately, there is the fact that one of the things we ought to look for at this Imperial Conference is that the British Government would itself take steps to make clear to the Governments of other countries what exactly the status of Dominions is, namely, that they are co-equal and that they are fully adult States exercising all the powers of States. It is rather unfortunate that should be necessary, but I think the Deputy will realise that nations and governments will accept a statement from the British Government that it recognises us as co-equal, much sooner than they will accept the statement that we regard ourselves as co-equal. It is an unfortunate fact that the word of the man with the big gun and the big pocket should carry more weight than that of the other man; but that is so to a great extent in ordinary human nature, and it is certainly so in the life of nations.
I do not propose staying away from the Imperial Conference. I believe that very useful work can be done there. It is time the anomalies I have referred to were done away with. The anomalies exist under the three headings to which I have alluded, and which, I think, Deputy Johnson will agree, cover any points he had in mind. I have considered the thing very carefully, and I think under these three headings fall all the anomalies of the apparent infringement of our co-equal status. With regard to the International Court, perhaps it would be better if I dealt with that on the League of Nations Estimate. I move that the Committee report progress.
