Mr. Chamberlain and the Australian delegates are to be congratulated
on the sound and reasonable compromise arrived at by them, and announced in the House of Commons on Monday night. It is that in all cases other than those where purely Australian questions are concerned the right of appeal is to be maintained, but that in purely Australian matters Australia is free to make any arrangements she chooses. Differences between two States, or between a State and the Commonwealth, will be dealt with finally in Australia unless both sides consent to appeal to the Judicial Com- mittee. The Federal Parliament may also make laws limiting the right of appeal, but in all cases such laws shall be reserved for her Majesty's pleasure. The Bill will, no doubt, now pass without any further alteration, and the Australian Commonwealth will come into being under very favourable omens. We sincerely trust that Western Australia will enter the splendid circle as an original State, and thus the great island-continent will start on its career complete. That the life of the new free nation of the South shall "be pros- perous and be long" is the fervent wish of the Motherland. That difficulties will arise for Australia, as they have arisen for the great Commonwealth of the West, we cannot pretend to deny, but we may hope and believe that when they come she will meet them as bravely as did the men who in America suffered all things that the Union might endure.
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