Welsh Journals

NATIONALISTS AND DEVOLUTION. THE SPEAKER'S PROPOSALS. Sir,-I do not wonder that all the expressions of view you had received before the issue of your August number were unanimous against the Speaker's inadequate proposals, to offer in the name of Devolution only a Welsh Grand Council, com- posed of the Welsh members of our existing Imperial Parlia- ment, to sit-whether in London or Walea-from September to January. FEDERAL HOME RULE. I am speaking not by any chance as a Welsh Sinn Feiner or Secessionist, but as a conscientious Federal Home Ruler — on behalf of Home Rule all Round and Federal (sic) Rule Round All — on behalf of a Welsh Nationalism consistent with British loyalty. A MINISTERING Nationalism. On behalf, again, not of an end-all Nationalism, but of an Instrumental, Missionary, Ministering Nationalism, consistent with both British Inter-nationalism and World-wide Inter-nationalism, and one anxious to do her share towards securing speedier world progress and betterment, and towards ultimately attaining universal brotherhood and world-perfection. A REAL PARLIAMENT. What Wales demands is a real, though Auxiliary. Welsh Parliament, situated. of course, in Wales itself, and accommo- dated in a model Parliament-house, and the members thereof remaining in session practically all the year round. A SYMBOL OF NATIONALITY. Such a Parliament would be the emblem and symbol of the ever-preseat consciousness of Wales of her separate entity as a Nation, and would be the natural headquarters and centre for co-ordinating and unifying all the country national activities. Progressive LEGISLATION. In such a Parliament, or Legislature, progressi e legislation and intelligent experiments may be initiated, which might be considered too risky if applied to the three or four sister countries at once, and which experiments, even if not all suc- cessful, would serve as valuable object lessons to sister and foreign countries. GRANTS IN AID. It is conceivable, of course, that a Welsh Parliament might, after all, be in certain social matters somewhat conservative, but in that case any reforms„pressed upon it by the Central or Federal Parliament (the new name for the existing Imperial Parliament) should be subject to substantial grants-in-aid from the Federal Exchequer towards carrying them out. DEVOLUTION IN STAGES. Both legislative and administrative power would be devolved to the Welsh Parliament, but I am inclined to agree with Mr. David Davies, that a feasible method would be to have the desired powers devol ed by (or, as we in Wales would say, extracted from) the Central Parliament in stages, but with the proviso that any powers devolved to England and Scotland should concurrently be devolved to Wales. The Local Parliaments, working perhaps in unison, could be trusted to extxract any necessary added powers as occasion arose. FISCAL, COLONIAL, AND FOREIGN DEFENCE. Legislation, as apart from administration of Labour and some other difficult problems, might at first, perhaps, be left to the Central or Federal Parliament, while fiscal matters and Colonial and Foreign affairs and defence matters (Army, Navy, and Air Force), might be left in part to the Central Parliament and in part to the new Imperia (or rather Commonwealth) Body or Parliament, which would also have to be created. JOINT COMMITTEES. A Welsh Grand Council, or Committee of the Central Parliament (as proposed by the Speaker) might still have its purpose in dealing with matters which are at the same time both CORRESPONDENCE. of Federal and domestic concern (such as Post Office and Transport), and such a Committee might usefully confer with the Welsh Parliament on many questions. DEVOLUTION ALREADY BELATED. The principle of Devolution having been long and abundantly proved to be necessary and generally acceptable, it should be applied as early as possible. Indeed, one would have thought that to set up the machinery of Devolution would ha e been a first step in the arduous work of Reconstruction after the late devastating war. Live and let live more-help one another to live." E. Lloyd Owen, M.D. Criccieth. 30th Aug., 1920. GYMDEITHAS GYMREIG PRIFYSGOL LLUNDAIN. Sir.-There have been many Welsh Societies in London; in the hub of the Empire they rise and flourish for a time, but somehow or other, the enthusiasm and the energy which characterise their foundation slowly vanish. It is as if an inevitable reaction displaces that high idealism which alone justifies their inception. Generally speaking, the societies either become mere memories, or are roused to a fitful enthusiasm inspired by annual obligations to Dewi Sant, or by some other occasion for festivity. The history of yet another Welsh Society is to be told. Here it begins — In January last the Welsh Students of University College and Hospital formed a College Welsh Society. The Prime Minister, Viscountess Rhondda, Lord Howard de Walden, Sir Henry Jones, Sir Owen Thomas, and Prof. W. P. Ker. answered their appeals and became patrons. The activities of the Society, were limited to the College--one of the two score constituent Schools which go to the making of London University. It was not long before requests for membership poured in from Welsh members in other Colleges and Hospitals. An oppor- tunity for expansion was thus offered which the Welsh students at University College were not slow to use. With commendable magnanimity they sacrificed their own Society for a Welsh Society of much wider scope. At a rapidly convened general meeting held at the end of the last Session the Constitution was approved; an outstanding feature is Rule 2: "The prime object of the Society shall be to foster the Welsh spirit." Dr. Mary Williams, lecturer at King's and University College, whose keen interest in the movement has been unremitting, was unanimously appointed President the other elected officers are Mr. Llew. R. Jones (Guy's Hospital), Mr Ben. I. Evans (University College), Vice-Presidents; Mr. J. J. Rowlands (London Hospital), Hon. Treasurer; and Mr. J. R. Nicholas (University College), Hon. Secretary. Early in the coming session the Society hopes to issue its programme, and students emigrating across Clawdd Offa are advised to join the temporary exiles to tend the flame of Welsh Nationalism in its new sphere. — Yours, etc., J. R. Nicholas. THE LATE SIR OWEN EDWARDS. Neuadd Wen, Llanuwchllyn, Merioneth, To the Editor. 3/9/20. Sir, — Would you kindly allow me to make known through your columns that it is intended to publish, as soon as possible, in Welsh, a biography of the late Sir Owen Edwards, and that this volume will be followed at a later date by a shorter version suitable for children I should be much obliged if my father's friends would allow me to see any letters from him, or any other materials bearing upon his life and work, which they may possess. Copies would be made of them, and the originals returned without delay to their owners. — Yours faithfully, Ifan ab Owen Edwards.