The sun., 1919-10-07
CANADA,S STATUS AS A MA TON WITHIN
THE BRITISH EMPIRE TOLD BY PREMIER
Sir Robert Borden Explains Diplomatic
Peace Conference.-The of Its Relation, SefGovenng
Britannia Country to the Treaty

In the Cdnddian Section Of THE SUN
Of Tuesday last, q special Pdrlian,e ntdry
correspondent In ottatoa gaze some
highly Interesting particulars regarding
certain official correspondence arising
out Of the Dominion's presence at the
Peace Conference and havolvhtO the
right of her Parliament to discuss and
approve OF the peace tredty-the posi-
ton being token that IN the event of,
q "shoto of handy BY the people Of
Canada they would undoubtedly be a
solid unit for the position taken BY scr
Robert Borden, noanely, that IN matters
Of peace or toar tohsch affect the Domin-
ION, the decision must rest not 10Th the
King or toith the British Cabinet but
10Th the Parliament Of Canada.
The character Of the representation
secured bv Canada at the Peace Confe1A
ence, her position as siondtory to the
treaties, and her status os a member Of
the League Of Nations, are matters
phich--otcin9 to the incomplete devel-
opm,ent of the relations OF the ruriots
British dontinions TO the motherland-
A mericdns, and, indeed, many Canadians,
only imperfectly understand. The foflotc-
ing statement Of the Canadian Premier,
therefore, Just made to the Parliament
Of Canada, touching upon the entire
question, Is Of the almost International
importance
By the RIGHT. HON. SIR ROBERT
LAIRD BORDEN, G. c. M. c., p. G.
The status of the Ddninions at the
Peace Conference was the subject of long
and earnest discussion. Various methods.
which 1t Is not necessary to explain,
were suggested. In the end I proposed
al ha
sentation for each Dominion similar to
that accorded to the smaller allied
Powers, and, in addition, that the Brit
ish Empire representation of i've dele
gates should be selected from day to
day from a panel made up OF represen-
tatives OF the United Kingdom and the
Dominions. This proposal was adopted
by the Imperial War Cabinet.
Early In December preliminary con-
versations on the making OF peace took
place in London between representatives
OF the British Empire, of France and of
Italy, and the proposal which / had
already put forward was accepted in
principle. The preliminary Peace Con-
ference began at Paris on January IL.
1919, and the question OF procedure,
including that of representation, was
Immediately taken up by the representa-
tives OF the principal allied and asso-
clated Powers. afterward commonly
known as the Council of Ten. At first
strong objection was made to the pro-
posed representation OF the British Do
minons. Subsequently there was
full discussion in the British Empire
delegation, at which firm protest was
made against any recession from the
proposal adopted In London. In the end
that proposal was accepted.
Canada's Representation.
The adoption OF the panel system gave
to the Dominions a peculiarly effective
position. At plenary sessions there were
sometimes three Canadian plenipoten-
tiary delegates, two as representatives
of Canada and one as representative OF
the empire. Moreover, throughout the
proceedings Of the conference. the Do
minion delegates, as members OF the
British Empire delegation. were
thoroughly In touch with all the, pro-
ceedings of the conference and had
access to all the papers recording its
This enabled them to watch and
check those proceedings effectively In
the interest of their respective Domin-
IONS and placed them in a position OF
decided advantage. Dominion Minis
tiers were nominated to and acted for
the British Empire on the principal
allied commissions appointed by the