UNANIMAOUSLY REJECTED.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1138, 27 May 1911, Page 5

UNANIMAOUSLY REJECTED.

By Teleurapa-Press Association-CoDyrieht (Rcc. May 26, 10.55 p.m.) London, May 26. The Imperial Conferenco sat all day yesterday discussing Sir Joseph Ward's motion for tho establishment of an Imperial Council. The. scheme was severely criticised and ultimately withdrawn by its proposer. Mr. Asquith, Primo Minister, presided, and Mr. Lewis Harcourt, Secretary of State for tho Colonies, was also present. Sir Joseph Ward continued his speeeh on his matiou: •'That the Empire has now reached a stage of Imperial development which renders it expedient that there should be an Imperial Council of State, with representatives from all the constituent parts of tho Empiro, whether self-govern-ing or not, in theory and in fact advisory to the Imperial Government on all questions affecting tho interests of his Majesty's Dominions oversea." Of the proposals to bo discussed by the Conference, said Sir Joseph Ward, Imperial', organisation was tho more urgent, when tho two greatest of tho Dominions had already embarked on naval policies. Neiv Zealand looked forward to substantially increasing her naval contribution. Surely the Dominions were entitled to somo voico in the question of peace or war. He suggested that the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and Newfoundland should elect an Imperial Houso of Representatives for Defence, with one representative for every two hundred thousand of population, tho House to bo elected for five years. There should bo an Upper Council, composed of twelvo members, giving equal representation to each part of tho Empiro. A Parliament of Defence. The .fact that two of tho greatest Dominions had already embarked on naval policies emphasised tho need- for an Imperial Council to co-ordinate and harmonise naval defence. Independent policies would not mako for the strongest position 'in maintaining Imperial tics, and ho preferred to call his suggested body an Imperial Parliament of Defence, as defence would bo the vitally paramount question.for its ccmsidoTatiou and was even more important to Great Britain than to the Overseas Empire, considering her naval burden. Tho day for a partnership had arrived, and tho question was on what basis tho partnership should rest. It could not rest on tho present relationship which did not givo tho partners a voico in tho management for tho protection of British ships, goods, and people on tho seas. Canada's and Australia's local provision, however good, was inadequate, and an Imperial organisation was necessary. Tho present lines of national divergence with regard to naval defence would increase as tho Dominions grew to full stature, unless British statesmen promoted a partnership with representation.. Tho Council would only deal .with Imperial essentials, and its framework would bo as clastic a's efficiency and durability demanded. There would bo no interference of one portion of tho Empire with another in regard to local land 'forces. Proper naval unity would secure the peace of the world for generations. Some Questions. Mr. Fisher asked whether the Council would have the pewer of coercion by legislative act. Sir Wilfrid Laurier said h<? understood that tho Council would have power to vote contributions which would have to be fixed by tho different Dominions. He seriously objected to that. Sir Joseph Ward replied that he wanted uniformity among the whole of the overseas Dominions. Mr. Asquith paid that apparently tho Council would havo power to impose contributions and policy upon dissentient communities. Sir Joseph Ward, continuing, said that under his scheme the membership of the Imperial House of Eepresentatives would be made up thus:— Great Britain 220 Canada 37' Australia _ 25 South Africa 7 New Zealand 6 Newfoundland 2 Total ....' 207 The Imperial Council, continued Sir Josepk Ward, would consist of two members from each Dominion. Mr. Asquith Raises a Point. Mr. Asquith asked whether in this Council ef twelvo Britain would have only two representaives, while tho Dominions had ten. Sir Joseph Ward, in reply, said tho Council would be mainly consultative and advisory. The Executive would'" consist of not more than fifteen members, of whom not moro than ono would come from the Senate. This Defesieo Parliameni ivoiild deal exclusively with matters ii' common to tho Empire, including peace or war, treaties, and foreign relatiens generally. Imperial Defence, and tho provision of revenue for theso purposes. For tho first ten years tho Parliament would have no power of taxation, but tho amount payable by tho Dominions would bo taken as a debt owing bv them. Afterwards the amount would bo provided in sucu a way as the Dominions might agree upon. The proposal presupposed autonomy among the national divisions of tho United Kingdom, 'which would be placed on the same footing as the Dominions. Some Finance. If a sum of £50,000,000 were borrowed on a basis of six per cent, per annum, including a 3 per cent, sinking fund, 25 Dreadnoughts could ho built to protect the Dominions and the British trade routes. On a basis of thirteen million whites in the overseas Dominions the people would be taxed nt the rate of ten shillings a head to provide the three- millions to pay interest and meet sinking

IMPERIAL COUMCSL SCHEME. CONDEMNED. CRUSHING CRITICISE

fund charges. After the construction of the vessels the remainder would provide docks and naval yards in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. If War Came? Mr. Asquith asked what would he the position of the British Government.. Were they to conduct negotiations with foreign Powers, and then if the negotiations came to the point of rupture should the. matter be held over for decision by the new body? Sir Joseph Ward said the Executive would bo responsible. The Defence Parliament, in which Britain would have greater representation than the Dominions would bo expected to share the burden of any war and would bo entitled to' a voice. HOSTILE CRITICS. Power Without Responsibility. Sir Wilfrid Laurior said the resolution favoured a council advisory to the Imperial authority, but Sir Joseph Ward's arguments favoured something different —a legislative body with power to create expenditure and ne responsibility for providing revenue. Such a scheme was indefensible and impracticable. Violates Every Prinoipls. Mr. Fisher said the plan was im--practicable, and would violato every principle of responsible government, and tho very basis of British government. The systems of defence to bo adopted by New Zealand and Canada could better be discussed on another occasion. Australia relied on the British Government generally to lafeguard tlvo whole of tho naval interests of the Empire, and tho Commonwealth to- defend Australia by it« own naval and military forces. He would not say there, was no possibility of an advisory council dealing with matters arising from time to time, and communicating with the representatives on the spot. That would be ample. A question involving tho irliolo rccsnstnietion of tho Empire could not bo considered and decided offhand. Practioally Valueless. General Botha declared that thescheme, would becomo meddlesome and interfere with tho domestic concerns of various parts of tho Empire and occasion friction. Sir Edward Morris, Primo Minister of Newfoundland, sympathised with the underlying motive, but said the. representation offered would be practically valueless. HOUSE OF COMMONS MEMORIAL. All tho Prime Ministers of tho Dominions having spoken, Mr. Asquith communicated the memorial which a. number of members of. tho Houso of Commons'had forwarded to him urging the need for taking practical steps to associate tho Overseas Dominions in a more permanent manner with the conduct of Imperial affairs, if possiblo by m«uis of an established Council of an advisory character. MR. ASQUITH SUMS UP. FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES UNDERMINED. . Traversing tho debate, Mr. Asquith said Sir Joseph Ward had brought forward a concrete propqsal which no other representative had been able to accept. The scheme would impair, if it did not altogether destroy, tho authority of tlio Imperial Government in the conduct of foreign policy in the conclusion of treaties in tho maintenance ef peaceen- the declaration of war, and in tho responsibility of tho Government to Parliament. These matters could not bo shared.

Tho proposal would also impose on tho Dominions a policy from which ono or raoro of thorn might dissent. It further involved an expenditure and taxation which tho people of tho Dominions might not approve.

Speaking for tho British Government Mr. Asquith said he could not assent to a. proposal so opposed to tho fundamental principles on which tho Empire had been built and carried on. THE MOTION WITHDRAWN. Sir Joseph Ward, in tho faco of tho unanimous opposition, said ho accepted tho position with equanimity and would withdraw his motion. VICTORIAN PREMIER'S VIEW. THE WAY TO RUN THE NAVY. London, May 25. Mr. J. Murray, Premier of Victoria, interviewed here, said ho thought Sir Joseph Ward's proposed Imperial Council ought to bo simply a consultative body. Replying to a suggestion that such an Imperial Council could bo useful in coordinating the efforts of tho different parts of tho Empiro in matters of defence, .Mr. Murray said he believed tho Imperial Committee on Defence would bo quite able to co-ordinato those efforts. He did not think Great Britain's naval advisers required to bo told by Australia what to do with the' British Navy. NEW ZEALAND'S DEFENCE. SPEECH BT SIR JOSEPH WARD. London, May 25. In his speech at tho Royal Colonial Institute banquet at the Hotel Cecil in honour of tho overseas delegates to the Imperial Conferenco, Sir Joseph Word, referring to New Zealand's universal military training, paid a tribute to Lord Kite-honor, without whoso assistance and influence that system would never have boon possible. Ho hoped that by and by New Zcalnndors would have the inexpressible pleasure of again receiving Lord Kitchener. (Cheeps.) .Whatever contribution' New Zealand had given in support of tlio Empire as •a whole towards tho Navy was not duo to her unlimited resources, but to the

of ono King, one Empire, and ono Navy owned by tho whole Empire for the protection of all.

MESSACE FROM THE KINC. KEEN INTEREST EXPRESSED. London, May 25. King George, in a message thanking the members of the Imperial Conference for their assurances of loyalty, said he was keenly interested in' their deliberations. Hn trusted tlie Priitj Ministers would ronvey to their peoples his deep regard for their welfare and