with
many other admirable Canadians and Britons, since it connotes or
involves the concept of British Union for all worthy and necessary
purposes, including maintenance of local autonomy or self-government,
surely a most praiseworthy design. Discussion of that idea is unlikely
to be harmful; it may be useful; something may come of it that may seem
desirable and practicable to substantially all interests and people
concerned. A consummation devoutly to be wished, but not to be rushed!
One point, frequently specified in Sir Robert's public speeches, was
stated as follows in a recent report, pamphleted for distribution by his
own side:

It is impossible to believe that the existing status, so far
as it concerns the control of foreign policy and
extra-imperial relations, can remain as it is today. All are
conscious of the complexity of the problem thus presented; and
no one need despair of a satisfactory solution, and no one can
doubt the profound influence which the tremendous events of
the past few months and of those in the immediate future must
exercise upon one of the most interesting and far-reaching
questions ever presented for the consideration of statesmen.

There Sir Robert was recommending no particular solution. A little
earlier in the same speech he illustrated the deep sense of all
experienced British statesmen that there never is or can be in the
British system any final solution of any grave problem, the vital
essence of the system being flux and change to suit ever-changing
circumstance.

In so far as this empire may be said to possess a
Constitution, it is of modern growth and is still in the stage
of development. One can hardly conceive that it will ever
distinctly emerge from that state or attain a status in
which constitutional development is no longer to be
anticipated. Indeed, the genius of the British people and all
our past history lead us to believe the contrary. The steps in
advance have been usually gradual and always practical; and
they have been taken on instinct rather than upon any
carefully considered theory.

[Illustration: YUAN SHIH-KAI

President of the Chinese Republic.

_(Photo by Rio V. De Sieux.)_]

[Illustration: PRINCE VON BUELOW

German Ambassador to Italy.]

Which was admonition at once of the Centralizationists and their
opponents, the Nationalists.

Whatever alteration