The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-23
Homo Rule All Round for the British
49, ' Empire.

The detailed account of the colonial
issued this month in London shows that
Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN expressed to the
colonial Premiers the conviction that a
federation of the British Empire is within
the limits of possibility He regarded
the conference itself as first step in
that direction, and the next step, he
thought, should be council of the
empire which. though at first simply
advisory, should gradually, and in a
manner which he did not define, acquire
executive functions. 1t appears that
Lord MINER has advocated precisely
the same scheme. The practicabilty
Of the project is denied by the Saturday
Rerier, and an alternative plan is mooted
which deserves notice, because that
journal is one of the most rancorous
opponents of the concession of home
rule to Ireland
To the Saturday Rerier the practical
difficulties in the way of the council
of the empire proposed by Mr.. CHAM
BERLAIN seem overwhelming. While it
remained advisory only, It would remain
Ineffective. On the other hand, the
moment that it acquired executive power
it would inevitably clash with the Cabi-
net and Parliament of the United King
dom Even if the people of Great Brit
ain, devoted as they are to their his
torical House Of Commons, could be per-
suaded to sanction an imperial council
which for certain purposes should over
ride the authority of Parliament, that
council would remain, so long as II
lacked control of the public purse, q
centre of irritation and an example o,
anomaly. The Saturday Rcrier take,
for granted that never would the British
people surrender To an imperial council
the power TO tax the United Kingdom
Without any power over the purse, how
ever, the suggested council would b,
doomed to legislative impotence.
Is, then, imperial federation a dream
No such admission can be expected from
the Saturday Rerier, which advocate
with the utmost zeal tightening of tn,
ties that connect the mother countr,
with her transmarne dependencies. Ii
it's anxiety to hit upon practicable de
vice FOR welding the disjected parts o
the British Empire the Saturday Rerie,
commends a scheme to the logical out
come OF which 1t can scarcely have givel
the grave consideration for which it ap
peals TO British statesmen. Where, i
asks. is the supposed insurmountabl
barrier to this election Of oversee mSm
bers u the British Parliament? 1t hold
that such large cities az Melbourne
Toronto, johannesburg and Auckland
or theseveral provinces, Or the Dominion
Of Canada and Commonwealth Of Aus
tralia as wholes, might send represen
tatives 10 England who would vote on al
subjects not judged TO be, as it were
parochisl; that is to say, exclusively per
tnent to tho interests Of the Unite,
Kingdom. In the opinion Of the Sdtur
day Rertep such oversee member
would not only constitute a centre o
knowledge and bond of unity, bu
would have an opportunity OF exertin
real and valuable influence on tn
course of imperial affairs.
We need waste no words in demon
strating the imprac ticability of such
rcheme, 50. far as the assent of the prin
oipal colonies il concerned. We do not
indeed y believe that it would be any NOR