The sovereignty of the British dominions

• Main Author: Keith, Arthur Berriedale, 1879-1944
• Format: Book
• Language: English
• Published: Macmillan and Co., Ltd. 1929
• Subjects: Imperial Conference (1926 : London); Imperial federation; Great Britain > Colonies > Administration; Newfoundland; Newfoundland studies
• Online Access: http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/cns/id/73879

Keith outlines both the growth and the limitations of sovereignty within the British dominions; explains that the balance of power within the Empire was of great importance to ensure proper government, and that the dominions had been given progressively more autonomy over time. Although the Imperial Conference of 1926 was intended to preserve unity, afterward it was said that the only remaining connection between British Commonwealth Nations following the conference was the crown (p. 182). As the oldest dominion in the Empire Newfoundland figures prominently throughout. Newfoundland began with very little sovereignty, and was even excluded from the League of Nations. As with all Dominions in the Empire, however, Newfoundland gained ever greater autonomy from English rule, until eventually the only connection truly was the British Crown. "Table of cases": p. xxv-xxvi. Includes bibliographical references and index.