A COUNCIL OF EMPIRE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2484, 10 June 1915, Page 7

A COUNCIL OF EMPIRE

DISCUSSED AT THE COLONIAL INSTITUTE. ! (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.! (Rec. June .9, 9 p..m) London, June 9. The Hon. Sir John M'Call, AgentGeneral for Tasmania, in London, read a paper at the Colonial Institute, in which he advocated a convention, at the end of the war, and representative of all parties in the Empire, to consider the possibilities of an Imperial Federation—how that can be secured without putting an.overtight lein on the young democracies, ana preserving the local autonomy of the Dominions. Sir Edmund Barton (first' Prime Min- ' Ister of the Commonwealth) said that any attempt to establish ail Imperial ] Parliament must be a failure, owing to the demand the Dominions made upon the service of their publio men. • These would make it impossible for the outlying parts to be represented by the best, men at tho same time. It would bo impossible for the Dominions to take, a full measure of participation in ' a crisis such as the present if they ■ iverq not given some voice, not only m i making peace, but in making ivar. j Therefore ho suggested the creation of an Advisory Council which, by cablegram, would be able to consult and keep in touch with the various parts of the Empire. The Council might develop into something more ambitious , later. Meanwhile ho warmly approved of the suggostion for an Imperial Con- ■ volition to consider the problem. Lord Sydenham presided.