CHAP. I] THE UNITY OF THE EMPIRE 1461
The difficulties of the position are illustrated also by the
growing desire of the Dominions to be consulted in matters
affecting war and peace. Thus complaint was made by the
Commonwealth Government?! that the Government of the
Dominion had not been consulted with regard to the con-
clusion of the Declaration of London respecting naval warfare
in 1909, and the ratification of the arrangement was, in accor-
dance with their desire, held over until after discussion at the
Conference of 1911. There is, therefore, evidence that closer
sommunication and consultation will be essential in future.
In the same direction of course the events of 1899-1902
point very markedly. Prior to the Boer War expressions of
opinion were given by certain of the Colonial Governments in
favour of concessions by the Dutch Republics, and during
the war spontaneous assistance was granted by Canada,
Australia, and New Zealand, and of course by the Colonies
in South Africa, who, however, were compelled to do so
in any case in self-defence? But the growing right of the
Dominions to express opinions on Imperial questions was
seen in the views to which they gave utterance as to the
settlement after the war, and in particular to the objections
of Australia, New Zealand, and the Cape to the adoption of
the system of Chinese labour in the Transvaal? From that
objection Canada held aloof on the ground that it was an
interference with the affairs of a Colony. But, on the other
hand, Canada herself has on several occasions urged upon the
Imperial Government the propriety of granting Home Rule
to Ireland,* and there is a significant difference between the
tones of the reply sent by Mr. Gladstone’s instructions in
! Parl. Pap., Cd. 5513, p. 9.
* Cf. Jebb, Colonial Nationalism, pp. 103-30; Canada House of
Commons Debates, 1900, pp. 20 seq.; Sess. Pap., 1900, No. 49; Willison,
Sir W. Laugier, ii. 313 seq.; Ewart, Kingdom of Canada, pp. 169 seq.;
The State, ii. 40 seq., 149 seq. ; The Round Table, i. 231-62. See also
Dalley, New South Wales Parliamentary Debates. xvi. 6 sed.; Parkes,
Fifty Years, ii. 139-43. Cf. p. 1262.
® See New Zealand Parl. Pap., 1905,A. 1, p. 6; 2b; Parl. Pap.,Cd. 1895.
‘ See Parl. Pap., Cd. 1697 (1903), 1943 (1904). So from Australia, Cd.
2821, 3187 (1906).
