272 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
Journal of Parliament of Empire
XL 797 800
But this view has never been formally adopted by the Imperial Conference.
The equality of status of the Dominions and the U.K. necessitates the consideration of a mode of deciding interImperial disputes [cmd. 3479 p. 41].
For this purpose, the imperial conference 1930 decided that such disputes should be dealt with along the line of ad hoc arbitration, on a voluntary basis. The procedure is to be limited to differences between Government and only such as are justiciable.
The Tribunal is to be constituted ad hoc for each dispute ; there are to be five members, none drawn from outside the British Commonwealth of Nations.
Each party shall select one from the States members of the Commonwealth of Nations, not parties to the dispute, being persons who have held or hold high judicial office or are distinguished jurists and one with complete freedom of choice. The chairman shall be chosen by these four assessors may be employed if the parties desire-expenses to be borne equally. Each party shall bear those of presenting its case.
External Sovereignty of the Dominions
They have autonomy. But not status. (They Have)* ceremonial status, but not legal ; de facto but not de jure
For many purposes the Dominions are endowed with a considerable amount of international personality independent of the United Kingdom. But the Common allegiance and the Common Crown interfere with the idea of each Dominion being a distinct sovereign state connected merely in a personal union.
The issue as to the possibility of neutrality in war has been discussed, but only claimed by the Nationalist Government in South Africa. [Kerth DGII 867 868 71, 72, Sovereignty of Dominions of D. 300-304 463-471 ].
It is open to serious doubt if the King could declare war without automatically involving the Dominions in the war.
- Inserted—ed.