SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1211, 21 August 1911, Page 5

SIR JOSEPH WARD.

INTERVIEW AT HOBART. IMPERIAL CONFERENCE RESULTS. By Tcleeraph—Press Association—CooyrichJ (Rec. August 20, 5.5 p.m.) Sydney, August 20. Sir Joseph Ward and party have arrived at Hobart in the Ruapehu. In tlio course of an interview, Sir Joseph Ward stated that the recent Imperial Conference was the tenth Conference he had attended, and be agreed with Mr. Asquith that the results of the last Conference, both in quantity and general benefit to the Empire, were of tlio most solid, enduring kind: first, as regarded matters touching the internal lelations of the Empire, and, secondly, as regarded matters touching international relations. Chief among the former was the undertaking of the Imperial authorities that hereafter no "international agreement will be entered into which affects oversea dominions without a conference or consultation with the dominions affected. This would obviate a good deal of the heartburning of tho past, occasioned by the Imperial Government completing agreements vitally affecting tho oversea dominions without referenco to these dominions. iThe prevailing practice on the part of the Home Government was striotly to limit all its international treaties to the United Kingdom unless tiro oversea dominions desired' their inclusion, and this, coupled with the undertaking on the part of the British Government to obtain the release from existing commercial treaties of any dominions desiring freedom, was a concession to the autonomy of all the self-governing countries of the Empire. During the debate on the proposed creation of a final Imperial Court of Appeal, Mr. Asquith admitted that the "dominions had well-founded reasons for complaint. "The Imperial Government," continued Sir Joseph, "has now undertaken, at the instance of resoiutioas submitted by me, to alter the constitution antl procedure of the existing Court of Appeal for the oversea Empire." There will be two divisions of the Courts Ono would hear appeals from the United Kingdom, and the other from the' oversea dominions. The Privy Council [was to be strengthened by the addition of two of the ablest English Judges, and the 'procedure was to be assimilated to that of tho House of Lords.

Another long stride towards Imperial unity was the agreement arrived at unanimously in respect to Imperial naturalisation. In the past tho most striking anomalies had existed. Persons naturalised in New Zealand or in Canada, for instance, while being British subjects witliin these dominions, wero aliens in any other part of the Empire. The, utmost diversity prevailed between the two Dominions. Clcser Union. Passing to what was admittedly the most important subject brought beforo the Conference —his motion in favour of a representative Imperial Council —it was significant of the extent to which the people of the United Kingdom desired closer Imperial unity that over three hundred members of the House of Commons, representatives not of one party, but of all parties, memorialised Mr. Asqiiith to pro- . mote the closer association of-the oversea dominions with the Imperial Government in the control of great Imperial interests, particularly of defence, and to do this by means, of a council really representative, of all parts of the Empire.

"This memorial," continued Sir Joseph Ward, "was consequent upon the resolution tabled by myself for discussion at tho Conference; and I am entitled to quote this as an answer to those who suggest that tho jntroduction to tho subject was somewhat gratuitous, aad without the widespread and fervent support of the peoplo'of tho Motherland.- In submitting the motion I never contemplated tho possibility of its being agreed tolas an organ-, ised system. It only sought the affirmation of the principle, and, , as a matter of fact, the principle underlying the motion was affirmed. ' Mr. Asquith declared on the part of tho British Government that it was in the fullest sympathy with any practical means of bringing the oversea dominions into closer union with tho Motherland, and that sentiment was repeated by various oversea representatives, notably General Botha.

"Subsequent discussions upon Imperial defence—which, owing to tho necessity for secrecy, I cajinot disclose—satisfy mo beyond doubt that effective Imperial cooperation for the defence of tho Empire cannot bo secured without the adoption in somo shape of the principle of Imperial unity I advocated. It is generally recognised that, while there may be eeveral navies within the Empire, there cannot, for effective purposes of Imperial defence, bo more than one Imperial naval defence policy. 'Eeeognising that the best result of one policy is one great Empiro Navy, I. havo always advocated as New Zealand's contribution to the Navy a money grant, on condition that the ocean fn'ghways should be fully safeguarded, as well as the shores of the different dominions. The Empira Commission. "The decision of the Imperial Conference to appoint an Empiro Commission with representatives on it from the Motherland a,nd tho oversea dominions is a very valuable arid important ono. Such a Commission, if men of wide experianco and knowledgo are appointed, must be able to obtain evidence that will enablo all concerned to improve the trade relationship existing throughout tli6 Empire. Necessarily, such a Commission cannot interfere with tho fiscal policy of any portion of the Empire, but with the over-in-creasing efforts to securo trade by com-1 peting with foreign countries, it is allimportant that nothing should be left undono by tho respective British countries to improve the conditions of the vast and increasing trade between themselves.

"Summed np, all must agree with Mr. Asquith that the results of tho recent Conference have been very solid and practical, and that none of these could havo bean attained rapidly or effectively except by means of the discussion which took place and the decisions arrived at at the Conference in London."

Sir Joseph Ward's attention was directed by the interviewer to tho endeavours of Mr. Fisher, Prime Minister of Australia, while in London, to have British possessions in the Pacific placed under Australian control, but ho would make no statement, preferring to preserve a neutral attitude.

When twenty days out from Marseilles he received a wireless message as to the rumour about handing over Tahiti to Germany, in connection with tho Morocco trouble, and ho telegraphed to Mr. Harcourt, Secretary for tho Colonies, emphatically protesting, and contending that it would be against tho best interests of the Ilritish community in tho Pacific. Ho was glad to hear that tho rumour was not true.

Sir Joseph Ward left early on Sunday for tho Dominion.