Evening star., 1923-10-15
Britain-First Policy Expected
From London Imperial Parley

"solidified Britain probably will
result from the imperial conference
! of premiers now in session in London,
American editors believe. Questions
of world politics are being considered
with the utmost frankness, but it
is accepted a policy will be adopted
before final adjournment that should
assure complete harmony among all
of the parts of the British Empire
That viewpoint is amplified by the
Springfield Republican, which ex-
! plains that ito some extent the con-
ference must be tentative in its pro-
gram and methods. 1t has to feel
it's way in establishing imperial re-
lations upon a broader and solder
basis and it is we'll that the general
disposition should be to approach
these fundamental problems in a eau
tious and conservative spirit. None
| the less the discussions now in prog
ress will be a long step toward
the reconstruction of the empire, and
the occasion is worthy of the pen
of Rudyard Kipling."
1t is the opinion Of the Detroit
News that men now living. who can
recall the British Empire as purely
colonial structure, shall live to see
the Canadian. Australian and South
African peoples as effective part of
British government as the cabinet
part at least, the view of the New
, York Tribune, which feels pressure
/ in Europe is driving Great Britain
10 look further and further aheld
for profitable trade, and imperial
policy and insular policy are both
deeply affected by the new point of
view"
In this connection the Winnipeg
Tribune makes it plain Canada Will
accept her honorable obligations. The
Canadian people are not dead beats
or poltroons and if they We're un-
willing to accept the responsibilities
that go with the benefits OF imperial
partnership they would take the man
! iy course of withdrawing from It,
The Boston Transcript emphasizes
at some length the Importance of the
| "dominions" as IAN aggregate of
powers to which no one man can
dictate. They cannot be moved un-
| less they want to be moved"
! Their mission also, as the Wall
Street Journal sees It, is to devise
the fuller utilization of the great
partnership of which they are mem
bers. 1t is noteworthy that they are
not debating the solidarity of the
British Empire. The great war demon
| strated that in q most extraordinary
way, and 1t should make many OF US
Americans thoughtful to remember
! that il was not only the Germans VINO
| were wrong about it's strength on the
outbreak of that war. Sensible Amer
leans will have nothing but good
| wishes for this real league OF nations.
! the worlds best guarantee OF peace.
| The fact that the conference favoTs
| negotiation to limit air armament
| is impressive. the Indianapolis News
| emphasizes, because the people who
pay the taxes all over the world
| would be glad to reduce them. The
British government needed no con-
vincing, and doubtless there are other
| governments In the same frame OF
| mind" The addresses so far made at
\ the conference, the Winnipeg Free
1 Press points out, contain clear in
! timation of the importance OF the de-
!, ,liberations, but 1t Is to be remembered
| that there are distinct differences In
! various ways in the circumstances of
| the various parts of the common
| wealth, and 1t must not be surprising
| that the parts. while desiring to CO.
/ operate closely, should differ as to
how 1t should be done"
| The influence Of the session cannot
be overestimated, the Des Moines
Register insists, when II Is remem-
| bered that Britain has one-fourth
the population of the globe. If these
peoples can be held together in a