Evening journal., 1919-10-11

The remarkable statement by Sir
Robert Borden contributed by him to
The Canadian Section Of The sun yes
lcrday puts a new aspect Of surpass-
ing Importance and far-reaching sig
nincance upon The status Of the British
represcniation I'm the Assembly OF the
proposed League OF Nations Sir HOD-
ert Tells us how he cOntended from
tho nrst for n fun recognition OF the
Domnlon's diplomatic autonomy ana
sepcrate responsibility in the proceed
lngs OF The Peace Conference. The
Canadian Premier succeeded in obtain
'~. his recognition, and in a measure
ness as yet but imperfectly under
-..d throughout the world. or course,
that recognition carried with IL the es-
adjustment Of a similar status for the
other domnions holding a similar re-
laiion TO The British Empires mother
hood.
"The Dominlon's case" says Sir Rob
ert. "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 MEM
bership and representation In the As
sembly and Council was fully recog-
nlzed" They are 10 become members
Of the League as signatOries Of the
treaty. "The terms Of the treaty" the
Canadian Premier points out, make no
distinction between them and other
signalory members" This status was
not won without constant effort and
firm insisience. u had the support
throughoul-an very naturally. as may
l. I
perhaps not so naturally, it had the
acquicscence and consent Of President
Wilson representing the United States.
Full nationality and equality are I'M
piled I'm the arrangement. Sir RoDert
speaks more than once Of Canada ana
the other British dOmlnlons as ma
tlons," each nation" preserving unim-
paired its absolute autonomy and enjoy
ing in the future scheme Of interna-
tional relationship the same status as
that Of minor Powers.
The establishment Of what Sir Robert
properly terms "ihe new and definite
Status Of the -Dominonsf is recorded,
he tells us further, in ''an official state
ment as 10 the true intent and meaning
Of the provisions OF the covenant in
that regard" and this official statement
now forms part Of the archives Of the
conference.
Certainly. The spacious progress in
The direction of full natiOnhood thus
secured for Canada by her Prcmier's
policy and efforts constitutes one OF
the most impressive facts among the
by-products Of The conference. Its Inn
portance to the future Of the world
can scarcely be overstatcd While the
Government and the people of the
United states will rejoice i'm every
achievement Of Canadian statesmanship
that tends TO strengthen the position
and enhance the prestige Of our great
and friendly ncighbor TO the north OF
MS. there is one feature of Sir Robert
| Borden's announcement which COM
! mands attention and invites scrutiny
! from the point Of view Of our own ma
tional interests II will be observed
that the Canadian Premier either con-
sciously or unconsciously challenge:
the principle of equal representation as
between the United States and Grea
Britain in the Leagues governmen
when he asserts the principle and re
cords the establishment Of equal rep
resentalion for Canada within the Brit
ish system. For he sums up the i'm
mense gain in autonomy which the Do
mnions have made during the negotia
tions at Paris in this highly suggestive
! passage:
zach nation lin the British sys-
tenn must preserve unimpaired its
absolute autonomy, but it must
likewise have IFS voice as 10 those
external relations which invole the
issue Of peace or Of war. SO that
the Britannia Commonwealth is In
Itself wcommnity or league Of ma
tions which mag serve as an eX-
emplsr to that worldwide League Of
Nations. which was founded on the
9sth day OF last June
A league within the Leaguci TIL
main fact could not be more frank
presented. consciously or unconscious
~. Acordicng to Sir Robert Borden
conception Of future international r'
lations The British Empire, or con