COLONIAL PREMIERS AT PARIS A BANQUET IN THEIR HONOUR. SOME INTERESTING SPEECHES. ILLNESS OF THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR. [PRESS ASSOCIATION.] (Received July 21, 10 a.m.) Paris, 20th July.

Evening Post, Volume LIV, Issue 18, 21 July 1897, Page 5

COLONIAL PREMIERS AT PARIS A BANQUET IN THEIR HONOUR. SOME INTERESTING SPEECHES. ILLNESS OF THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR. [PRESS ASSOCIATION.] (Received July 21, 10 a.m.) Paris, 20th July.

A banquet was tendered by the Paris Chamber of Commerce to the visiting colonial Premiers. Sir Edmund Monson, British Ambassador, was to have presided, but was prevented oniug to himself and his family being seriously indisposed after partaking of shellfish. It is suspected that 'they are suffering from poisoning from this cause, but they are recovering. In the absence of Sir Edmund, Mr. Harding, President of the Chamber, proposed the toast of the visiting Premiers. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Premier of Canada, speaking in French, said the day would come when Canada would as-pire to a higher position, and the existing ties with Britain would then ,be severed or drawn closer. Canada would not accept representation in the r Imperial Parliament if the price was the surrender of the legislative autonomy of the Dominion. The Right Hon. G. H. Reid, Premier of New South Wales, said no policy worthy pf serious consideration was being unfolded to secure closer political aud commercial relations between the Mother Country and the colonies. The virtual independence of the colonies had resulted in an unprecedented Imperial solidarity. The other great . nations might feel jealous, but the3 r could scarcely quarrel, because Britain returned them good for evil. Britain would only remain supreme while the other great nations did not adopt Freetrade. New South Wales, with a freer tariff than that of the Mother Country, aimed at the developing of the Southern. Seas, whose destiny was equally noble. Sir Gordon Sprigg, Premier of Cape Colony, said he was confideut that the ties connecting the Empire would be drawn closer and closer.