Evening star., 1926-10-24
BY SIR PHILIP GIBBS.
ONDON.-1nterests in the United
States and Europe in trade and
politics Will be Influenced by


politics Will be Influenced by
~ the conference Of British do
minion premiers now meeting
in London.
1t is not family conclave for flag
Wagg1ng purposes. These statesmen
from overseas have come to discuss
with England many subjects Of seri
GUS importance in world affairs. The
rapid development Of empire trade
and resources, the speeding up Of
nvttish emigration to Canada. Aus
tretia and South Africa, closer com
fherclal relationship between the do
fdlnlons and the mother country ant
the organization Of the British film
idustry for exhibition throughout the
empire are put down on the agenda
for immediate discussion.
If any Of those objects can be
achieved they will have considerable
effect upon world trade outside the
British empire by increasing compe
iition and creating new sources OF
wealth. In other ways this imperial
conference may affect the lives and
livelihood Of nations outside the Brit
ish dominions, especially in Europe.
GuarantOr of Peace.
During the past few years, and
especially during this year, England
has been the chief guarantor of peace
IN Europe by signing the Locarno
pact, bringing Germany into the
League of Nations and organizing the
general plan of European peace, based
upon political understanding and eco
nomic interests That scheme, still
very fragile, depends very largely
upon Great Britain's prestige and po-
litical strength. 1t would collapse
like a house of cards il England were
Weakered by internal strife or by any
breaking of her imperial unity.
French peasants now plOWfnS their
fields after the harvest. German in
dustrialists now balancing their books,
many millions of people looking for
ward to an era of peace and recon-
struction would find their security
threatened and their treaties repudl-
ated if Great Britain were deprived OF
support from young nations under her
flag and left to bear her burdens alone.
At the present time England has
many world responsibilities and grave
Internal troubles. The coal strike, still
dragging on disastrously, is draining
Der domestic sources of wealth and
Creating a social crisis of alarming
gravity. Unemployment of her best
manhood is sappinG her economic and
moral strength. Something must be
done to stop this rot, which is paralyZ-
ing Great Britain's industrial activ-
tiles and jeOparGiZing her influence
IN Europe.
Looks to DOminiOns.
II is at this time of crisis that Eng
land looks to her dominiOnS to rally
Loyalty to relieve her of some of her
financial burdens, incurred partly in
their defense, and TO ea@e her political
and economic troubles by more rapid
End effective cooperation. The great
rst of all her immediate needs is some
practical way of ira ansplanting some
millions of her population to those
overseas dOminions, where they could
gain "A prosperous livelihood for them
selves and build up new markets for
British goods.
Unfortunately for England there are
many obstacles in the way of this
hope Her own labor leaders are in
tensely hostile to emigration. They
believe that social revolution, peace
full or otherwise. would never be sur
vived if England is deprived of her
surplus of labor. In Australia there
is equal hostility to any large-scale
settlement from the mother country,
because their unions and socialist poll
ticians are jealous of opening their
doors to British working men lest
wages should fall and their political
power be weakened.
These dominion premiers, now in
London, are anxious to give loyal sup
port to Great Britain. Mr.. Mackenzie
King of Canada and Mr.. Bruce of Aus
tralia are very much concerned with
the industrial situation in England. l
have reason for believing they are
both prepared to give practical and
financial assistance on behalf of their
governments by taking greater shares
of England's present burden of i'm
periai defense. They are also hopeful