Evening Post. MONDAY, JUNE 28, 1897. THE PREMIERS AND DOWNINGSTREET.

Evening Post, Volume LIII, Issue 150, 28 June 1897, Page 4

Evening Post. MONDAY, JUNE 28, 1897. THE PREMIERS AND DOWNINGSTREET.

Last Friday Mr. Chamberlain inaugurated the Conference between the colonial Premiers and the Home authorities by a long speech, in the course of which he explained the views of Her Majesty's Government on several very important points. He dealt, we learn, with the trade relations of the Empire, mail and cable subsidies, the administration of the New Hebrides, defence questions, and the renewal of naval agreements — all subjects of vital interest to the colonies. No discussion followed ; but, at the instance of Mr. Reid, the Conference was adjourned until to-day (Monday) to enable the Premiers to deliberate upon the proposals made. Our cable advices do not as yet give details of the views expressed by Mr. Chamberlain, and we shall be anxious to learn all particulars. So much depends upon the attitude assumed by the Imperial authorities, that the future solidarity of the Empire might almost be said to lie in their hands. Now, if ever, seems tho acceptable time when an attempt should be made to put the relations between its component parts upon a firmer and more methodical basis. The present haphazard, unsystematic arrangement can never become permanent, and if the British Government proves incapable of suggesting a workable plan for present and future consolidation, we fear that in all probability, as the colonies become stronger, their populationii larger, and their resources better developed, there will be a growing tendency for them to drift away from the Old Country, not in any hostile mood, but simply because they will have to take their own affairs more and more into their own hands unless their local interests are identified with those of the Empire. At the present moment, thanks largely to Mr. Chamberlain and other statesmen who have had the wisdom to break away from the traditional narrowness of European diplomacy, the democracy of Great Britain is beginning to realise that the welfare and goodwill of the colonies is more desirable thau vamping up the Ottoman Empire or fruitlessly opposing the inevitable expansion of Russia towards the sea. The colonies, too, are awaking to the fact that they ought to be no longer regarded as dependencies, but rather as co-ordinate parts of one great State system, which shall recognise the value of all its members, and the necessity of preserving the health of the whole body corporate. At a juncture like this a special interest attaches, to the London Conference. It is not that any actual decisions can be made, for the Premiers have no plenipotentiary power*; but, for once at least, the red-tape traditions of Downing-street will be infufsed with a, broader spirit, and the of the case will, we have reason to believe, be laid before the Home officials who superin tend colonial affairs from the colonial and Imperial rather thai* the official and British poiut of view. We do not mean to say that the dream of a systematised and uniform Imperial Federation is likely to be soon realised, but we do think that, if tha Colonial Office is broadminded and rational in its proposals and the Premiers impartial and wise in their discussion of them, plans may be evolved which will greatly strengthen the Empire as a whole, and materially benefit both the Motherland and her offspring. At any rate, we shall watch with interest the proceedings that arc now taking place in London, and we sincerely hope that they will at least help to smooth over the difficulties which lie in the way of a unification of the commercial interests of our race.