UNITY OF THE EMPIRE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1159, 21 June 1911, Page 7

UNITY OF THE EMPIRE.

SPEECH BY LORD ROSEBERY. , By TeleeraDh—Tress Association—CoDyrtehi ' London, Juno 19. Members of the Houso. of Lords and Commons welcomed fifty-four representative overseas Parliamentarians in Westminster Hall at a luncheon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier (Prime Minister of Canada), Mr. Fisher (Australia), and Sir Joseph Ward (New Zealand) were present. Lord Rosebery, who presided,- in proposing the health of the guests, referred to the unique gathering of Parliaments of the Empire,. which had come to do homage at the source of all Parliaments in that historia hall. Oα such air inspiring occasion it was lawful to dream dreams. Did they not see in the Imperial Conference tho germ of a mightier council, representing tho aspirations for a united Empire in a defined, permanent form, becoming tho most august Parliament the world had ever seen, without impinging in the slightest on the domestic affairs of each other? Lord Rosebery did not believe the realisation of the dream was remote. The cause' was marching with giant strides. "Some day," he said, "wo shall wake and find ourselves for Imperial purposes a federated Empire." The speech concluded with eloquent references to the blessed' vision of a great Empire, and a great. Republic joining hands to discourago war. Nevertheless, he was certain that thorough preparations for,.war .must.precede the, hope of anything like general disarmament. Sir Mackenzie Bowell (Canada) responded. Sir William Lyno (Australia) proposed the Imperial Parliament. • Lord Curzon and Mr. Emmott (Chairman, of Committees of the Houso of Commons) re•ponded. . ,