BRITAIN AND THE DOMINIONS
SIR,—I was glad to read Sir Norman Angell's article, and also the letter from your correspondent on November 24th. But may one not go further? Germany and Russia and others —even many of our own people—are very fond of inveighing against the Imperialism of Britain. Is is not a fact that Britain is shedding her Imperialism as fast as she can, in obedience to what she believes to be a better principle? There is nothing truly Imperial in the old sense of the word in the relationship between Britain and the Dominions. We are a family of free nations, not strictly an empire. The link that binds us together could be severed by any member at will. It is only our common love of freedom, symbolised by our common loyalty to the British Crown, that binds us together. True, we are as yet in a transition stage. The King of Britain may still not incorrectly be called Emperor of India, but India is clearly on the road to attaining Dominion status, and becoming a free nation in a group of nations like the other Dominions loyal to the British Crown. The title of Emperor might for historic and traditional reasons be retained in regard to India rather than King, as in the case of the other Dominions, but the position would be practically the same. There remain only the Crown Colonies. But it seems likely that in the general settlement after the war some change may be made in the position of the colonies, qualifying the idea of absolute ownership. Even as it is, we are hardly more imperial than the United States.—Yours, &c.,
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