The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-20

also that Australia, New Zealand. Cam
ada and India would be excludedY
The President-They are parts OF the
British Empire.
Senator Brandegee--They are parts n,
the British Empire, but are they parties
10 the dispute which I have rupposed
10 have arisen between us and England?
Judgment Quite Clear.
The President-I admit, Senator. that
mat is n complicated question, but INV
judsment about II Is quite clear. think
can give one instead of three answers.
Senator Brandegee-Yes.
The Observation-Disclosures can aris,
only through the Governments which
have International representation. In
other words, automatically speaking.
there Is only one British Empire" The
parts Of II are but pieces of the whole.
The dispute therefore in the casa Won
have supposed would be between the
! United States. as n diplomatic unit. and
the British Empire as a diplomatic unit.
That Is the only ground upon which the
!, two nations could deal with one another
i whether by way OF dispuate or agree
mtnt. Therefore, have assumed. ana
confidently assumed. that the representa-
tiyes OF all parts Of the British empire
would be excluded.
Senator Brandegee-I should think
that would be only fair, and I would
assume that; but Mr.. Miller answered
that question by saying at first that he
was in doubt; secondly, that the self
governing colonies of Great Britain or
o, the British Empire would not be ex-
cluded because they were not parties to
the dispute; and then, third. that they
would be excluded because they were
parts Of the British Empire and If the
legal adviser of the commission was that
much confused, 1 feel that / need not
apologize for being confused myself.
The President-No, but the commits
sion was not confused
Senator Knox-May 1 say this: The
fact Is that while 1t is technically true
as the President says that the British
self-governing colonies deal diplomati-
cally through the British Foreign Office
II is only true in most technical sense
They are absolutely autonomous even in
their diplomatic dealings as to matters
that affect them. For instance. 1 re-
member when the Canadian reciprocity
agreement was negotiated in 1911 the
delegates sent to negotiate the agree
ment were from Canada. Great Britain
did not appear at the hearings or con-
ferences at all, and in every sense
Canada was just as autonomous in con-
Quoting her International negotiations
as she would have been II she had been
an absolutely Independent Government
The President-Yes; but this you see,
Senator, Is a combination of definite
Governments that have definite inter
national relations with each other.
Senator Knox-But the fact that you
give representation TO Canada and
Australia and New Zealand and other
autonomous self-governing British colo
MES rather contradicts the idea, does 1t
not, that they are one Government?
The President-I think not, sir; be-
cause in making up the constitution of
the council II was provided, to speak
with technical accuracy, that the five
principal allied or associated Govern
nents should each have one representa-
tive in the league; and in the opening
paragraph of the treaty itself these
Powers are enumerated and among
others is the British Empire THE
Empire OF Great Britain" I think is the
technical term. Therefore their unity Is
established by their representation in the
council.
Dominions Lack Authority.
The Chairman-I was going to ask, II
] may, what function do these nve do
minions of the British Empire have in
the Assembly?
eral powers OF the Assembly itself.
The Chairman They have votes in the
Assembly?
The President-They have votes, but
In a matter involving the British EN-
pire they would have but one vote among
them.
The Chairman-But on all other mat
ters they would each have one vote?
The President-Yes.
RrandaQaa-I want IN call the
Presidents attention to the first page of
the treaty with Germany, which says
after the preamble setting forth the de-
STABILITY of the condition existing being
replaced by just and durable peace
for this purpose the high contracting
parties represented as follows" and then
Il nanles them. and in the list is his
MAJESTY the King of the United King
d. OF Great Britain ana Ireland and
Of the British dominions beyond the seas,
Emperor of India, by his duly accredited
officials, and the Dominion of Canada,
the Commonwealth of Australia, the Do
minion of South Africa, the Dominion of
New Zealand" and so forth. Now, they
are high contracting parties?"
The President-Yes
Senator Brandegee-And II one of
those high contracting parties has a dis
pute with another of the high contracting
parties by what Inference are other high
contracting parties made parties to the
dispute?
The PRESIDENT think by the infer
ence that / thought l established, dir
Senator Brandegee (interposing)-
II YOU will allow me to say so. 1t does
not say that these parties. the self
governing British colonies shall be ex-
Guided from participating in the delibera-
tons because they may have some in
terest in the controversy?
The President-No.
Colonies All interested.
Senator Brandegee - They must be
parties TO the dispute. Now II we have
disr,.,ta Nth I,raa.laI,d about iha rleZht