The Washington herald., 1921-07-03
by FRANK f. sIMoNDs-

conference in London must be
recognized as q landmark in the
history Of the English-speaking
world. having an Importance for
the United States only a little less
than for those outlying regions OF
the British Empire. which during
the world war finally put aside the
state Of colony and entered into the
dignity OF dominions.
At the moment when the German
found himself involved with Britain
as well as with his Russian and
French enemies in the great strug-
gle for world power. II was the
boast and the expectation OF Berlin
that the disruption OF the British
Empire would be one of the Ger
man achievements of the war. That
Canada, Australia, New Zealand and
even South Africa would rally to
the British cause did not strike the
German mind as within the realms
of possibility.
Germany's Great Blunder.
Yet no greater blunder in all The
long list OF German miscalculations
can he discovered than that which
was disclosed in the response OF the
British dominions to the call to
arms for the empire. Alike in GAL
lipoH and in France. Australian
troops wrote imperishable pages in
the military history of the English
speaking race, while from the hour
of the gas attack before Ypres to
the moment when Mons was re-
occupied as the curtain fell apon the
conflict, Canadian Yalor and Cana
dian sacrifice rivalled English and
Scotch. As for South Africa SO far
from seizing upon a propitious mo-
ment for achieving Independence.
the forces of -Botha first swept Ger
man rule from Southwest Africa
and then oyerran German East.
completing the ruin of German
colonial aspirations In the dark
continent.
At the same time Indian troops>in
vast numbers fought Germany's
Turkish ally in Mesopotamia. in
Palestine and in Syria, while Ger
man calculations of revolts among
British Mohammedan populations
from the Indian Ocean 10 the Medi-
terrenean proved as vain as all
other German calculations which ir-
volved an understanding of non
German peoples
DomonIons High In Council.
One cannot limit the part OF the
British dominions in the war to the
military effort alone-in the coun-
ellis Of the empire the voices of
Hughes OF Australia and SHUTS of
the Union of South Africa achieved
Influence and respectful hearing.
In the peace conference both OF
these prime ministers were con-
spicuous figures. while In q recent
session OF the league OF nations,
Canada made her voice and opinion
heard to much purpose.
Yet II II essential that all Ameri-
cans should perceive that the war.
|vhile completely failing to fulnn
lGeman expectations as 90 the
)Aovnfan of the British Empire,
vrougnt changes in the structure.
(which are illustrated in the London
|eonference and will make history
for all future time. OF the loyalty
Of me DomInions to the empire fnal
prof was supplied IN the struggle
f1eself Not much less than 100000
soldiers from the British overseas
|Dominfons having a white popula-
tion shared in the world struggle.
nearly 4oo. 900 Canadians fought in
France and more than 100000 Aus
tralians crossed the seas to Eu-
|rope.
Status Changed by War.
But the very magnitude OF the
|contributions Of the Dominions
served to change the general situa-
tion materially. How often during
|snd since the war have I not heard
Australians and Canadians of in
lnuence meet the familiar question:
|"would you come again." with the
significant answer: Yes; but not
on the same terms" What has
happened in the recent conference
lis the best evidence of the meaning
/ OF this comment.
What the citizens OF the Domin-
ions felt as a consequence of the
world war was a totally new need
to be represented. not merely In the
councils which direct war. but in
|the conferences in which the deci-
|sion for war or peace is made-and
even more than that. in the shap-
Hing OF policies which may bring
war as one of their immediate or
remote consequences. The Domin-
Hons fought to save the empire in
|1s14 and the succeeding years, but
tn the direction of imperial policies
put of which the war resulted. they
pad neither asked nor enjoyed par
Iticipation.
Seek Major Roles
In Canada, in Australia, in South
Africa. the events Of the war pro-
3duced no more profound effect than
fhat desire for imperial representa-
tion which has since been expressed
Il every conceivable fashion. In
teality these three great Dominions
felt themselves at once nations in
fmperialiAic federation in which
their interests were gravely con-
6erned and in which they had hith-
krto played only a minor role. 1t
was not. " my Judgment. any less
ening OF the sense Of loyalty to the
British Empire. which resulted, but
Father q determination to make
kheir own part in that empire more
hearty proportionate to the present
nd future value Of their own frac-'
Hon.
What the dominions highly re-
olved and have actively sought.
fince the close of the world war.
bas been the total transformation
$t the balance of the empire. Ger
!aia Americans have been much ex-
srcised by the ALLEGATION to the va
ious dominions of separate votes
n the league of nations. thus be-
towing upon the British Empire
ot less than six votes against one
or the United states. But this was
ot an evidence of a deep-laid plot
II the statesmen and diplomats or
he United Kingdom: on the con-