On his return to South Africa last month General Smuts,
in an important speech on the Imperial Conference and the effect the British elections would have on it, expressed the opinion that the decisions of the Imperial Conference ought to be binding on any British Govern- ment. But if this attitude were to be maintained it is difficult to see how the Imperial Conferences of the future would be able to function. The Dominions have stated repeatedly, and most emphatically, that any decisions arrived at by the Imperial Conference would be subject to their Home Parliaments. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. Equally, from the British standpoint, the decisions arrived at must be subject to the veto of the British Parliament. The South African Labour Party at Pretoria on Saturday passed a resolution repudiating General Smuts's declaration.
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