Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-16
Mp~,,Raxra~>
omd yutuS>;a4.1

entation of parchment testimonials to the families
of fallen heroes interested me more especially as
recalling the celebration of July IA in Paris just
twenty-five years ago that happened to attend.
Then, as now, the central part of the program
was review of the troops by the president OF
the republic-President Carnot in place of Presi-
dent Poincare Of today-and with an exuberant
gayety in strong contrast with the sober solem-
nifty of the present. The French celebrate July IA
as we do July as their natal day Of indepen-
dence, it being the anniversary of the fall of the
Bastille, but abroad they make use of the &C.
cason in more effective way than we do. When
| was there, for example, there was complete
official schedule of events included among them
the dedication of beautiful new street that
had been laid out and improved, the avenue de
Ia Repubique," and also the unwilling of a statue
of Danton on the Boulevard St. German There
were flags and decorations in profuson and band
concerts and illuminations (no explosive fire
works. and as cap-sheaf that characteristic
Even then, in the display Of the flags of all
nations, no monopoly being claimed for the tri-
color the utter absence of the German flag was
noticeable. As to the military review my notes
have it that there were 10000 troops in line and
no less than 100000 spectators on the Long
Champs race course, where the parade took place.
People who have been taking it for granted
that the European war will produce its most
radical changes in government in Germany
ought to read book of which have been fur
nished an advance copy, called THE Problem
Of the Commonwealth" written by L. Curtis,
Canadian publicist outlining what the author
believes to be the irresistible drift toward re-
organization Of the British empire, essential to
make it self-governing. This work, it is ex-
planned is reflex of the thought developed even
before the outbreak of the war by the so-called
Round Table groups in Canada New Zealand,
Australia and South Africa, and also later in the
home country, whose members saw confronting
them the question whether the provinces
should become independent governments or
should have full share in the imperial sover-
eighty. Emphasis is laid upon this point, which
has generally escaped attention, that respon-
sibility for peace and war in the British empire
has nowhere been assumed except by the people
OF the United Kingdom who alone control all
the foreign relations and maintain exclusive di-
rection OF the army and the navy To be more
plain-spoken, we are reminded that the present
war was taken up by Great Britain without con-
sultng the dominions and provinces who have
been permitted, however, to tender their aid in
men and money and have done so because they
believe their interest is likewise involved, but by
no legal compusion. But neither Canada, Aus
tralia, South Africa or any other British posses
sion not represented in the British Parliament will
have word to say about bringing the war to
close or about the terms Of peace, though the
peace treaty may decide their veal or woe.
Mr.. Curtis whole contention is that after the
present object lesson long continuance Of this
condition will be intolerable. He points out the
powerful leverage for securing greater share
in the government in the tremendous obligations
incurred through the conduct of the war, for
there is no way under the present British consti-
tuition to make the colonies share the colossal
war debt, or even contribute in taxes toward the
interest charges, but with their own consent, so
the reader is left to draw the inference that
concession of full participation in their govern
ment may be exacted as the consideration for
taking on their share of the burdens. If that
were So we would have the reorganization of the
British empire coming back to the slogan Of our
American revolutionary fathers when they an
swered King George with their defiance, mo tax
alton without representation"
The difficulty in the way Of solving the prob
lem of the commonwealth, disclosed by critical
reading Of this work. lies largely in the satisfat-
tory construction of an imperial council or par
Lament. Membership would naturally have to
be apportioned on some acceptable basis, either
arbitrarily or according to population or voting
strength If the mother country, however, re-
tanned preponderance Of the membership the
dominions and provinces, even though enjoying
speaking privileges and votes, would be as much
subjects as before, and if the way were left open
for the provinces and colonies in the course of
their more rapid growth and expansion to secure
majority of the imperial council the ruling
sovereignty would eventually be transferred from
the United Kingdom whenever issue arose that
forced such an alignment take it here will be
the sticking place fol. long time, Yet this, be-
yond dispute is the direction OF the evolutionary
movement in Great Britain which is sure to be
quickened by the conclusion of the war.
II was the sudden crash Of war that woke the
people Of the British dominions to realization
of their status as British citizens, and as what
Mr. Curtis says on this point impresses me as
equally applicable for US, let me make few
abbreviated quotations:
"A state is a community, claiming an unlim-
tied devotion on the part of each ard all of its
members to the interest of all its other members,
living and yet to live. One person cannot rccog-
nize two such claims because sooner or later
they are bound to conflict. A South African, for
instance, cannot allow concurrent right of de-
Gliding whether he, individually, is at peace nr at
war to exist both in the government Of South
Africa and in that of the British commonwealth.
When war was declared in the kings name, the
German government recognized thar British citi-
zens in every part of the commonwealth were
involved No foreign government was in any
doubt the matter and to alter this position the
South African government would have been
forced to make some positive declaration. They
must have ordered all South Africans 20 regard
themselves as at peace with Germany and there-
fore to fulfill the duties of neutrals Lacking the
physical means of compelling British warships to
leave their ports, they must have forbidden mer-
chants to provide them with Goals and provisions,
but most of these merchants could have claimed
that, as British citizens they were at war with
Germany and not merely entitled, but even bound,
to give aid and comfort to British ships. As
British citizens they would have claimed that The
imperial government, not that Of South Africa,
was alone entitled to decide the question of
peace and war so far as they were concerned,
and the law would have been on their side TO
reconcile common citizenship with allegiance
tat tc tr.nr