IMPERIAL PRESS CONFERENCE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7818, 10 June 1909, Page 2

IMPERIAL PRESS CONFERENCE.

PRESS .AND NAVY.

Per Press Association —Copyright. (Received June 10 5 8.40 a.m.) LONDON, June 9. Mr Kii-wan (West Australia). m responding to the toast of " the Guests," at the luncheon m the .House of Commons, dwelt on the steady' strengthening m the spirit of. colonial Rational-*-, ism; namely, spirit and pride m being an Australian, Canadian, or New ' Zealander. Yet a change was coming over the dominions and the ■ 'Empire, and they were surely tending towards a period of closer alliance; and iha Empire of the future would be grander and greater than it had been m the past, inasmuch as it would consist of a great family of new nations -bound m; strength and pride to'the Motherland. Several Cabinet Ministers ■ and all the London editors were at Mr Lloyd George's breakfast. - • • The weather was deligktful during. Lord. Northcliffs entertainment at Sutton Place, Guildford, and' there were no speeches. The. 230 guests-in-cluded Lord Roberts,. Lord Esher, - Lord Robert and Lord Hugh Cecil. In the evening, Sir Richard Beachcroft, chairman of the London County Council, gave a reception at the Graf-". ton, ivhen 1000 persons were seated m- I the galleries. The guests included the I Lord Mayoivjof London and the muni-' I cipal officials. "~ ■ ■ I The Chronicle says that th© endorse-wj ment of Lord Rosebery's warnings made a deep, impression on the audi- ' ence , and that Mr Ward's - speech showed that the conference is' of opinion that those who sheltered'themselves behind the flag ought to.take a eharo m the maintenance of the-fleet. The Daily Express "dwells mainly on the speeches of Sir Edward Grey, Mr Lyttelton and Mr Ward, and says that they will make far more for peace than the itinerant junketings of Labour leaders m Germany. ■ The general opinion is that such discussions as that of yesterday are the best possible preparation for confidential official debates next, month It anticipates the best results.from the Received June 10,' 11.55' a.m. LONDON,, June' 9. In a remarkable, speech at the Press Conference, Mr Balfour endorsed Lord Robbery's, views, and - added that if Armageddon -occurred it would not be m Remote parts of the Empire, • but m European -waters, ' . Mr Haldane agreed with Mr Balfour ' and Lord Rosebery, and advocated his scheme for a General Staff ,m touch with stsfl's of the colonies. ¥ 6 T ssrS i £ enwi°k and * Cunningham ■ and Lord Roberts also spoke. . Mr Fink proposed a resolution urg- " ing the advocacy of universal training. Mr Mark Cohen seconded' this, and urged that Lord Roberts should be sent as a missionary throughout the Empire. Iho Conference, however, disapprov- • ed of adopting any resolution, and the* proposal was, therefore, withdrawn