21 JUNE 1924, Page 9

The reason why the present discussion revolving round the Lausanne

debates in Great Britain and Canada is of such special importance is that it concentrates our atten- tion on the two most vital problems which the Empire will have to deal with in the near future : (1) the status of the self-governing nations within the British Common- wealth ; (2) the international status of the British Empire and its relations to foreign powers. Whatever may be the outcome of the present discussions concerning Canada— the nation furthest along the path towards nationhood in Greater Britain—it will establish a precedent for all the other Dominions, some of which may not yet feel the thrill of nationalism quite so acutely as does British North Ainerica.