ABSTRACT

The Dominion status, as it is evolving itself, may be described as one of absolute independence, tempered by loyalty to a common Crown and by the determination to work in co-operation with Great Britain, in the fulfilment of the imperial trust. The needs of the war precipitated decisions on the nature of the imperial partnership, as it precipitated matters in other directions. During that war there were two cabinets advising the Crown, one an Imperial War Cabinet advising the Crown in respect of matters of common Empire concern, the other a British War Cabinet. "The idea," Sir Robert explained, so impressed itself upon the people of the United Kingdom and upon their statesmen that at a meeting of the Imperial War Cabinet a definite offer was made to the overseas Dominions that this experiment should be continued in the future.