BRIDGING THE GAP.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 136, 9 June 1911, Page 5

BRIDGING THE GAP.

» BETWEEN' THE CONFERENCES. DELEGATES DISAGREE. THE COLONIAL OFFICE. SIR JOSEPH WARD'S MOTION WITHDRAWN. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received 10.50 a.m.) LONDON, June 8. The sittings of the Imperial Conference were resumed to-day. Mr. Lewis Harcourt (Secretary of State for the Colonies) presided, and outlined his proposal for a Standing Committee to bridge the gap between the Conferences. Mr. Fisher, Sir Joseph Ward, and Mr. E. K. Batehelor agreed that such machinery was needed. Mr. Botha. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Sir Edward Morris, and M. Malan disagreed, preferring subsidiary conferences to consider special questions. Mr. Harcourt said that while the discussion was informative, the want of unanimity compelled him to withdraw his motion. Sir Joseph Ward withdrew his motion dealing with the reconstruction of the Colonial Office. The New Zealand delegate's motion favouring the interchange of visits of Civil servants between Britain and. the Dominions was carried. AN IMPERIAL CRISIS. LAURIER'S TREATY MOTION. (Received 10.50 a.m.) LONDON, June 8. The "Standard" describes Sir Wilfrid Laurier's motion, as to the Dominion's treaty rights, as an Imperial crisis. It recalls the British Government's firm refusal in IS9I to sound foreign Governments regarding the denunciation, and the Marquis of Ripon's declaration in 1895. The ultimate effect of Sir Wilfrid Laurier's motion, says the "Standard," would be a policy of dismemberment. During the debate, on the Australian motion as to the encouragement of shipping. Mr. Buxton (President of the Board of Trade) said that the Government had to consider the matter in a world-wide sense. The denunciation of treaties might be undertaken if the end justified the means. Such action might be resented by foreign Powers, and Britain suffered retaliation. In view o-f tie enormous trade with other Powers, it would be*unwise to take the risk. They could not accept the resolution on the particular point urged, though on general principles the Government were in agreement. Sir Wilfrid Laurier said that it might be difficult to denounce treaties. He would move at a subsequent meeting that the British Government be requested to negotiate with the several Powers affected, with a view to relieving from operation of treaties. British Dominions desiring to be so relieved. This would probably meet the Australian view.