IMPERIAL AFFAIRS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1147, 7 June 1911, Page 5

IMPERIAL AFFAIRS.

_a AUSTRALIAN POLICY. MR. FISHER INTERVIEWED. By TelejraDh-Press Association-Copyright London, June 5. Mr. Fisher, tho Prime Minister of Australia, interviewed, said tho Australian Labour party invited the ot tho world-particulnrly those of tho Um-pire-to join in bringing about co-opera-tion of all tho nations in the direction of regulating the production and distribution of wealth, and thus end the misery many of tho workers in tho world were suffering from. Tho party believed that in time all the nations would co-operate in the peaceful development of tho world's resources. At the same time, ho considered that every citizen was responsible for tho nation's defence; hence Australia s citizen army. Tho success of the Labour party at tho polis had been due to the adoption ■of a strong national policy regarding unimproved land Tallies. Tho naval and military defenco policy, from which Admiral Sir Reginald Henderson's scheme had been evolved, was the Labour party's production. Tho wealth per head of Australia was sufficient to enable every person doing an honest day's work to receive Mr. Justice Higgins's "fair and reasonable remuneration." Tho reason he had not voted for the ratification of tho Declaration of London was, said Mr. Fisher, his non-agreement with some of the clauses, particularly those having references to food that was to be contraband in war time, HOW TO SERVE THE EMPIRE. UNIONIST JOURNAL'S ADVICE. London, June 5. . Commenting on the speech mado at Stafford by Mr. Frank Wilson, Premier of Western Australia, in which Mr. Wil- ; son declared that Australia would spend her last man and shilling in defence of the Empire, the "Pall Mali Gazetto" (Unionist) issues α-warning against poseiblo attempts to reduce, the British defences because of the Dominion's assurances of help. The paper adds: "Our overseas visitors • would best servo the Empire by saying 1 little about what they would do should tho need arise." ; DECLARATION OF LONDON. GERMAN COMMENT. : Berlin, June 5. Grand Admiral von Koester, head of tho Germany Navy League, describes the : Imperial Conference's approval of ' the Declaration of London as a gratifying event. The newspaper "Berliner Tageblatt" considers that the ratification of the De- , clarationis assured. The Declaration, adds tho paper, is the only substantial progress ever made regulating naval warfare. ' '. ' ■ AN EX-LAW LORD'S VIEWS. (Rec. June 7, 1 a.m.) London, June 6. Lord Lindley, formerly Lord of Appeal in Ordinary, in a letter, states that a careful study of the Declaration of London has convinced him— "Firstly, that we are no worse off as belligerents or neutrals if' thc-Declarfitiou is ratified. "Secondly, if it is ratified, .we are, on the;whole, much better off than if it .unratified, but the Declaration should be ratified upon the clear understanding that in interpreting it regard should be paid to the admirable Report which it is its avowed object to carry out."