124 THE FUTURE 



The feeling of loyalty to the Empire as a whole is, 

 I am convinced, sufficiently strong to allow of a 

 bold policy being initiated. In fact, if such a 

 policy is not initiated the danger to the Empire 

 will be great. Every component part of it will 

 be suffering from the effects of the war, and it 

 is only by working together on a carefully thought- 

 out poHcy that there can be any hope of the Empire 

 recuperating quickly from the effects of this dis- 

 astrous war. 



But unfortunately the great obstacle in the 

 way of a new policy is a fear on the part of the 

 Imperial Government that the Dominion Govern- 

 ments would object to interference ; and on the other 

 hand a feeling on the part of the Dominion Govern- 

 ments that the Imperial Government would not 

 receive favourably suggestions from outside sources. 

 And yet the flow of population can only be guided, 

 and the development of the land of the Empire can 

 only be achieved if a clear understanding between all 

 the Governments concerned is arrived at, and care- 

 fully thought-out procedure replaces the present 

 existing chaotic conditions. As a first step, an 

 inter-Governmental Conference on Land Settlement 

 is needed. A conference is only temporary in 

 character, but its work should be to create adminis- 

 trative machinery that would be lasting. 



I have shown that for the development of any 

 great system of land settlement within the United 

 Kingdom efficient and sufficient central machinery 

 must be created, but Land Settlement within the 

 United Kingdom should not be kept entirely 

 separate from Land Settlement in other parts of 



