Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit FRIDAY, MAY 10, 1935. PREMIERS' MEETINGS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 177, 10 May 1935, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit FRIDAY, MAY 10, 1935. PREMIERS' MEETINGS.

The informal conversations between the Prime Ministers of the Dominions and representatives of the British Government are typical of the times and should do much toward consolidating the Empire in regard not only to matters of internal moment but also to international affairs. It is interesting at the outset to trace the development of the idea of consultation between the various self-governing and other important units of the British Commonwealth of Nations. The first took place at what was termed, —with immense pride on the part of both the Motherland and the various units, —a colonial conference, a somewhat casual meeting made possible by the fact that representatives of oversea Governments happened to be called to take part in the Queen’s Jubilee in 1887. It was, however, not altogether casual, for prior to their assembling in London the Colonial Secretary had communicated with these Governments, advocating the desirability of a conference and discussing its personnel. But the celebrations provided the opportunity, and the Diamond Jubilee of 189/ and King Edward’s Coronation in 1902 were similarly used as opportunities for conference. The history of the Imperial Conferences, indeed, is a narration of the way in which a number of meetings, thus used, gradually led to the growth of a regular institution, this becoming conscious of itself and setting about its business on a plan increasingly definite. Nor should it be forgotten that certain pressing difficulties —friction produced by the partition of Africa, and the activity of Germany, France and Russia *n the Pacific—had earlier revealed the existence of problems common to Britain and the colonies. To discuss defence, communications and foreign policy generally had become necessary. The nature and the scope of the problems now to be solved have changed as a result of the Great War, rendering the desirability of face-to-face interchange of counsel even greater than ever. Haying to choose between opposite possibilities, those of close political federation and individual freedom to co-operate, the Imperial Conferences turned decisively to the second method; and this British concert has, just as decisively, chosen to displace consultation through intermediaries with face-to-face exchange of counsel. In this the Imperial practice coincides with the international; instead of using diplomatic and consular agencies at times of critical need for . exchange o opinion, responsible Ministers transact much of foreign business in personal interviews and general assemblies, the preferred method does not always succed, the fault is in its users, not m the method itself. A wealth of experience is therefore the basis on which the Prime Ministers have been mvited to the “family conclave to endeavour to advance the solution of the difficulties that confront the worldwide British Commonwealth, within its borders and beyond. _____