IMPERIAL PRESS CONFERENCE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7819, 11 June 1909, Page 4

IMPERIAL PRESS CONFERENCE.

i?er frooa iiasouianou —uopyrijiki. 1,0 JN DON, June 10. Speaking at the i Jress Conference, Mr JJaltour said the tale of Australia, JNew Zealand, Canada, South Atrica and India would not be decided m the i-'aoinc or m the Indian Ocean, but m the northern hemisphere. Everybody who read the signs of the times agreed with L<ord itoseDery's and fair Edward Grey's weighty words, and recognised the impossibility of looking at the subject of Imperial deience without anxiety, though not panic. Mr J. B. hrierley (of the Montreal Herald) said if danger threatened the .Umpire Canada would be prepared to spend her last cent, and give her last drop of blood, to prevent a catastrophe. The results of the Conference would not be found m the minute books, but m increased interest m Imperial matters. ' Mr Haldane ((Secretary for War) said he agreed with every word Mr tfalfour had said. He urged the colonies to organise their forces m the interest of their own necessities, but to remember the possible need of co-opera-tion with other parts of the Empire. Like Mr Ualfour, he felt the burden of tho present time. Difficulties were arising which were not accidental, but were due to other nations becoming more wealthy and powerful, but he still believed that the Empire's rate of progress was greater than that of any other race. Mr George Fenwick (Dunedin) said the speeches of Ministers and ex-Minis-ters this week had made the Conferance historic. The editors had received much inspiration on many points. The spontaneous ofjer of N,ew Zealand's Dreadnought should not be measured by its cost. It was a demonstration or patriotic feeling which would help forward all the Empire. He disclaimed any intention of disapproving of the action of Canada and Australia and their decision to provide for their own defence, but all must recognise how inadequate local provision must be. The safety of the over-sea dominions lay m the maintenance of a great Imperial navy, therefore he urged the Pres3 to support it. Mr Cunningham (editor of the Melbourne Argus) said it was impossible to get Australians to realise that their firet efforts must be wholly directed towards an Imperial navy. They should be first interested m their own defence to think of a nayy—if only a local navy, that would be a stepping stone to an Imperial navy. He thought Australia had been treated indulgently m the past. That was the secret of the wave of enthusiasm which had resulted m tho recent offers of New Zealand and the Commonwealth. He was delighted that the now Government of the latter had adopted the people's wishes. Australia was not ready to adopt universal training. It involved many problems, and he doubted the wisdom of attempting to force it at i tho present stage. Lord Roberts said the chief danger to England was that she had enjoyed] for so long supremacy of the seas that security on land was apt, to be regarded as a fixed condition. He believed that a new era had commenced, which might require the whole Empire to justify its pjcistence. Nothing but iorethought_ and preparation would make us reliable m a great emergency! The Lord Mayor entertained the delegates and a hundred other guests at luncheon.