374 THE BRITISH APPROACH TO POLITICS

A fourth point follows from the preceding. The common
feeling which prevents war within the Commonwealth suggests
that all the Dominions \pould be united in war against a foreign
power. Whether this would invariably be so, is uncertain, but
plans for the Imperial defence rest on the assumption that
there would be unity, at any rate in a major war. The undefined
membership of the Committee of Imperial Defence permits at
any time die association with it of Dominion representatives,
such as" sat in the War Cabinet in 1917 and 1918. Since both
Commonwealth and Empire spread over the world, the command
of the sea is the foundation of defence. The Dominions maintain
small Navies, but in effect rely on the Navy provided by the
Mother Country. Canada and South Africa make all their male
citizens liable to military training, and until recently, similar
policies were practised by Australia and New Zealand. Without
the command of the seas, however, Dominion Armies would
not be able to perform any Sanction save that of defence of their
own lands from invasion. Presumably, should any Dominion
declare itself no longer a member of the Commonwealth, the
Mother Country would cease to provide for its defence; here is
something in the nature of a "sanction" holding the Common-
wealth together. But in practice, the matter is not discussed in
these terms at all. Unity is assumed rather than examined.

A fifth link is economic. Much capital in the Dominions is
owned by people in Britain. When Dominion Governments or
private firms wish to raise loans, their membership of the
Commonwealth gives the investor in Britain confidence, and so
opens the London money market on specially favourable terms.
British investors have thus a special interest in the trade and
politics of the Dominions. The latter however, have learnt that
the position of a debtor country can be made very difficult, and
are now less inclined than formerly to raise such loans. The New
Zealand Government in particular, endeavours to borrow as
much as possible within the Dominion.

Various suggestions have been made for the framing of an