The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-08-28


representative Of the general idea
clashes with an opposing force out
side all the other members will rush
to the rescue. In practice, therefore.
the Empire acts as whole when,
ever its common momentum IL
needed to face a crisis.
But in the meantime ana IN ord,.
nary seasons Downing Street must
interpret as well as 1t can the minds
Of the various states. The best that
1t can do is to assure an impert.I
people that in the day Of battle they
will stand together.
1t is well to have the truth first
as last.
The influence Of the dominions
can only be directed to general con-
siderations Of policy. The influence
Of Great Britain can best be turned
to questions Of imperial finance. II
is there that we shall find the point
of junction which will establish tia
unity OF the Empire. Here the
policy Of Great Britain and of the
dominions is conjoint. Here the
dominion premiers may well have
their say.
They can point with justice and
pSopriety that the millions squan-
dered in Mesopotamia and Palestine
would be better directed towards the
development Of the Empire. The
government offers a million for EN-.
pire cotton growing against the twen-
LYNNE and a half millions spent
this year in the Middle East. Min
listers would be better employed in
thinking about the financial and IN.
dustrial condition of Australia than
in worrying about the ungratefuI
Arab.
That country. with its adverse ex.
change. which is hampering its
needs and desires, above all thing,
expects the capital of the center of
the empire to restore it to prosper.
ity. BUT what would be given to
Sydney or Melbourne is being
poured out to Jerusalem. Basdad
absorbs the cash which ought to 70
to Christchurch.
THE BOND OF FINANCE.
Very different would be the Dol.
icy Of statesmen who desire to con-
solidate imperial power against any
possible crisis. They would consider
that the strength of the empire In
the past has been based on both
sentiment and finance. OF senti-
.ment 1t Is not necessary to talk
since the war. But the great finan-
cial bond has been the habit of the
dominions to raise their loans in
London. London today has neither
the inclination nor the cash to lend.
What she has is being poured into
the deserts Of the East.
Canada, not through her own de-
sire. but out Of necessity. is turning
to the money markets OF the United
States. The bond OF union is thus
being lost. The dominions are
turning elsewhere for their financial
necessities. Something far more
vital than a theoretic agreement
on vague issues Of foreign policy
is being jeopardized. The finance
of the empire Is passing beyond its
own bounds.
Tho resources Of the empire are
like a great river defending into
a plain, which is the whole world.
The energies Of the race-the
finance Of the center-rush down In
all directions with an irresistible
now. Yet the river may well spend
itself In the waste. Tho wise eng1.
neer win direct It to tho field where
the crops will give the greatest TIL
lage. That field is the British en-
pire. Policy will follow industry
and the flag. Then money devoted
to financing tho empire 10 q more
potent form Of unity in foreign
policy than anything which Down.
ing street can devise. Where the
treasure Is there the heart VII Be
alao