The sun., 1919-10-07

conference from time to time to con.
slider and report upon special aspects OF
the conditions of peace.
On several occasions I was charged
with the duty of attending as one of the
British Empire representatives on the
Council Of Five. Mr. Lloyd George called
upon me to put forward before the Coun-
Gil Of -Four the British Empire case In
respect of the clauses on economic
questions, on the international control
Of ports, waterways and railways and on
submarine cables. During the last month
OF my stay in Paris I acted regularly
as chairman Of the British Empire dele
cations In the absence of the Prime
Minister of the United Kingdom, whose
duties as member of the Council Of
-Four constantly prevented his attend
ence.
Step Forward.
II is desirable to note an important
development in constitutional practice
respecting the signature Of the various
treaties concluded at the conference.
Hitherto 1t has been the practice to in
sert an article or reserva don providing
for the adhesion of the Deminions. In
view of the new position uiat had been
secured, and of the part pinyed by Do
minion representatives at the peace
table, we thought this method inappro-
pirate and undesirable in connection
with the peace treaty, Accordingly, !
proposed that the assent Of the King as
high contracting party to the various
tTeoties should IN respect Of the Do1,in-
ions DO SiOnifed By the signature Of the
Dopliaion plenipotentiaTtes and that the
preamble and other formal parts Of the
treaties should be drafted accordingly.
q, In hA
of O memorandum by all the Dominion
Prime Ministers at a meeting which I
summoned and was put forward by me
on their behalf to the British Empire
delegation, by whom II was accepted.
The proposal was subsequently adopted
by the conference and the various trea-
ties have been drawn up accordingly so
that tho Domtnions appear therein as
siunutories and their con crrrence IN the
treaties is thus given IN the some mun-
ner as that Of other ndtiors.
This important constitutional develop
ment involved the issuance by the King.
as high contracting party, Of full powers
to the various Dominion plenipotentiary
delegates In order that such powers
issued to the Canadian plenipotentiaries
might be based upon formal action OF
the Canadian Government, an order in
council was passed on April 10, 1919,
granting the necessary authority. Ac-
cordingly, 1 addressed communication
to the Prime Minister of the United
Kingdom requesting that necessary and
appropriate steps should be taken to es-
tablish the connection between this or
der In council and the issuance Of the
full powers by his Majesty so that II
might formally appear of record that
they were issued on the responsibility
of the Government OF Canada.
Canada ana the League.
The new and definite status OF the
Dominions at the Peace Conference is
further manifested in the constitution Of
the League of Nations. Since they had
enjoyed the same status at the Peace
Conference as that of minor Powers, va
took the ground that the Dominions
should be similarly accepted in the fu-
ture international relationship oontem-
plated by the league. The League OF
Nations Commission. while inclined to
accept this in principle, did not at tho
outset accept nil its Implications, as was
apparent in the first draft Of the cove
nant. This document, however. was
tentative. The Dominions
case was pressed. and in the final form
as amended and Incorporated In the
treaty of peace with. Germany the
status of the Dominions as to member