The sun., 1919-10-07

ship and representation In the assembly
and council was fully recognized.
They are to become members as sigma
tories OF the treaty, and the terms Of the
document make no distinction bettceen
them aud other signotory members. An
official statement as to the true intent
and meaning of the provisions of the
| covenant in that regard was secured by
me and is of record in the archives OF
the Peace Conference.
A similar question arose In respect OF
| the constitution OF the international
| Labor Organization. Corresponding to
the council of the league, there is a
labor governing body consisting of dele
| gates nominated by limited number OF
governments. The original form Of the
labor convention did not adequately
| recognize the status of the Dominions
and at the plenary session OF April IL,
| 1919, when a resolution was proposed
that the Peace Conference approve of
| the draft convention, l moved that the
| resolution be amended by adding a pro-
vision which authorized the drafting
| committee to make such amendments as
| were necessary to have the convention
conform to the League of Nations in
the character of it's membership and in
the method of adherence. As q result
the labor convention was finally amended
so that the Dominions were placed on
the same footing as other members Of
the International Labor Organization,
becoming eligible like others to nominal,
their Government delegates to the gov
erning body.
The recognition and status accorded to
the British Dominions at the Peace Con-
ference oere not ICON ,oithout constant
e0ort and firm tnsistence. In all these
efforts the Dominions had the strong and
unwavering support of the British Prime
Minister and his colleagues. The consti-
tutional structure of the British Empire
Ia imperfectly understood by other ma
lions, even by a nation so closely allied
In klnship, In language and in the char
acter OF Its institutions as the United
States Of America. Such lack of COM
pnehension need excite no surprise, be-
cause the association between the mother
country and the great self-governin.
Dominions has been for years in n con-
dition OF development, and that develop
ment is not yet complete.
Future Relations.
The future relationship of the nations
or the empire must be determined in ac-
cordance with the will OF the mother
country and of each Dominion in n con-
stitutional conference to be summoned
In the not distant future. Undoubtedly
II will be based upon equality of nation
mood. Each nation must preserve I'M
impaired Its absolute autonomy, but II
must likewise have it's voice as to those
external relations which involve the issue
or peace or Of war. So that the Britain
mic commonwealth Is in itself a commu-
nifty or league of nations which NAV
serve as an exemplar to that worldwide
League OF Nations which was founded
on the 2Sth Of last June.
On behalf Of my country stood firmly
upon this solid ground: that in this, the
greatest of all wars, in which the world's
hpefty. the worlds Justice-.in short the
worlds future destiny-were at stake
Canada had led the democracies OF both
the American continents. Her resolve
mad given Inspiration, her sacrifices had
peen conspicuous, her effort was un-
aoated to the end. The same indonita
Die spirit which made her capable of that
enort and sacrifice made her equally in
capable OF accepting at the peace cnn-
ference. in the League of Nations or
elsewhere, n. status inferior to thar ac-
corded to nations less advanced In their
development. less amply endowed in
wealth. resources and population, no
more complete in their sovereignty and
tar less conspicuous in their sacrifice.