Memorandum by the Department of External Affairs
on the 1923 Imperial Conference

IMPERIAL ECONOMIC CONFERENCE.

MEMORANDA BY THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

on the following subjects:-

1. Historical Outline.

2. Attitude of the Dominions.

3. 'Consultation' in Foreign Affairs. Opinion of Chief Canadian Liberal Paper.

4. Imperial Preference. Adverse Canadian Opinion.

5. Signature of Treaties by the Dominions.

[Matter omitted]

IMPERIAL CONFERENCES.

UNIFORM TENDENCY Steady refusal on part of Dominions to consider any form of Federal or Constitutional Union and an ever increasing insistence on their status as independent Nations within the Empire.

Steady increase in the insistence by the British Government on the importance of the problem of defence, and in the sentiment on the part of the colonies in favour of inter-Imperial Commercial preference.

CONFERENCE BEGAN: No particular importance.

1) 1887 (Colonial)

2) 1897        "

3) 1902        "

HISTORICAL SUMMARY

1907 CONFERENCE

FIRST STEP TOWARDS COMMONWEALTH.

EVERY FOUR YEARS

1) An 'Imperial Conference' was to be held every four years or oftener if need be.

2) It was to have no executive or legislative authority.

POWERS

3) It was to be a Conference between governments represented normally by Prime Ministers for the discussion of questions of 'common interest' whose decisions were only to be effective if endorsed by the respective parliaments.

The question of defence was shelved owing to British discussion with Germany for limitation of armaments.

The British Government of the day had come into power on Free Trade policy and could not accede to desire of Dominions for Imperial preference policy.

1909 CONFERENCE - DEFENCE.

Called to consider situation created by new German naval programme.

Australia agreed to maintain in Australian waters under her own control a fleet unit of one dreadnought, three armoured cruisers, and destroyers.

Canada agreed to keep two smaller units, one in the Pacific, the other in the Atlantic.

New Zealand and South Africa promised to contribute in ships or money directly to British Navy.

All undertook to increase their national forces and to train them on uniform lines for the purpose of co-operation in the event of war.

1911 CONFERENCE.

The Dominions having accepted a share in defence were allowed to discuss foreign policy.

1917 IMPERIAL WAR CABINET

The Prime Ministers of the Dominions came to London to attend special meetings of the British Cabinet to discuss the problems of the war and possible conditions of peace.

1918 IMPERIAL WAR CABINET

This Cabinet again convened remained in session as the supreme directing body until the Armistice and went to Paris in 1919 as the British Empire Delegation to the Peace Conference.

The Dominions insisted on separate representation at the Peace Conference on the ground that they had done more to win the war than several of the participating nations.

1921 CONFERENCE.

CONTROL OF FOREIGN POLICY.

The Conference was recognised as the body which formulates the policy of the Empire especially in foreign matters. The British Government becomes charged with the duty of carrying out that policy in the intervals between the conferences, subject to such consultation as is possible through resident or visiting ministers or the cables and the mails.

The British have made a pretence of consulting the Dominions by sending innocuous 'confidential' despatches to the Dominion Governments long after any possible advantage could be gained or disadvantage avoided by the Dominions.

The question of 'consultation' on foreign affairs is regarded as the most important item on the Agenda for the coming Conference.

[Matter omitted]