Mr. Gavan Duffy and his associates, who have been engaged,
as we reported some time ago, in the preparation of a report as to the federation of the Australian Colonies, have presented that report to the Victorian Government, and included in it a proposal that the new federation should be neutralized, i.e., should not take part in England's wars, but be regarded as the Ionian Wanda were during the Crimean war, as an independent State under the English Protectorate,—not bound to share in its quarrels. The Commissioners point out that in order to effect this, the federation -must be conceded the power to contract independent treaties with -other States,—such treaties, we suppose, requiring the assent of the British Sovereign as Sovereign of the Confederation, but not requiring the assent of the British Government or Parliament. Were the new federation to be thus neutralized, the Com- missioners point out that England would save a great deal -of expense and anxiety in attempting to protect them in time of war, while the federated Australias might volunteer to assist us in our wars, if they so pleased. In a word, the relation would be one of personal union through the 'Sovereign, and nothing more, but might become as much more by the consent of the new federation as that federation might choose: It would never do. A State really independent and able to negotiate independently with other States, would never endure to have a Sovereign at the Antipodes whom it never saw, and whose views in appointing a Viceroy would necessarily be in- fluenced by other considerations than the good of the colony. besides, when you destroy the substance of a relation, you had %better destroy its form too. Alliances between equals would be +far better than such a tie. No doubt we must engage to protect -our Colonies by our fleet, and keep our engagement as long as we -give them no influence in declaring war. But till they think themselves fit for real independence, that is the only reasonable solution of the difficulty. Mr. Duffy's plan is a chimera.
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