Dominions and Foreign Affairs Mr. Menzies, the Australian Attorney-General, gave
an interesting statement to the Press before quitting Great Britain after a stay of some months on official business. After paying a tribute to the work done during the past zo years in evolving " Dominion status," and establishing the sub- stantial independence of the different members of the Empire, he pleaded for a more concentrated effort to " preserve the essential unity of the Imperial structure as a whole." In the formula which he suggested for this—a Great Britain which recognises that in the largest foreign issues it must speak for the Dominions as well as itself, and therefore must closely consult them ; and Dominions which recognise no less, that besides handling their own problems wisely they must make " an effective contribution to a wise Empire policy "—he seems trying to give some practical effect to the Balfourian principle, that equality of status within the Commonwealth does not imply identity of function. At the other end Mr. Hughes, who is Minister for External Affairs in the Common- wealth Government, has been urging the abolition of the Dominions Office, and the direct communication of the Dominions wiA the Foreign Office or the Prime Minister. If he thought a little more closely what those alternatives amount to, he would hardly maintain his opinion. Mr. Lyons, the Australian Prime Minister, thinks the present arrange- ments work perfectly well.
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