PROBLEMS OF EMPIRE.
the tone sometimes adopted by members of the committee in discussing this question. Believe me, Englishmen as a body recognise that Australians as well as Canadians have done much for the defence of the Empire in the past. We do not forget that Melbourne and Sydney have been well defended at Colonial expense. We do not forget the presence of the New South Wales contingent in the Soudan, a great object-lesson to European nations of the unity of sentiment which animates all who live under the Union Jack. A contribution of 135,0007l. a year does not loom very large in Navy Estimates which amount to 22,000,000l., but it is valuable as the recognition of a principle and as an earnest of what our Colonies may some day be prepared to do. We shall not repeat the mistakes of the past. We do not and we have no right to expect that you will make any serious money contribution to the defence of the Empire until we are prepared to give you a constitutional voice in the control of that expenditure. That is impossible under our present Constitution.
Federal Government the future Constitution of the Empire. Looking to the future many people will be disposed to agree with Lord Rosebery that 'in a full measure of devolution subject always to Imperial control lies the secret of the future working of this Empire.' No nation has ever attempted to deal with such multifarious questions as we attempt to deal with in the House of Commons. It will be some years yet before we in the old country are able to draw the line between matters which are of Imperial, and matters which are of local, concern, as they do in Germany and in the United States. A delay of one or even two generations will give an opportunity for the population and resources of the Colonies to develop, and will place you in a position46
