CABLE' NEWS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 30, 5 February 1907, Page 7

CABLE' NEWS.

[■T SLKCTXIO TELEO&APS. — COPTBIOHT,] - ' ♦ ■" SIR JOSEPH WARD. « A COUNCIL OF ADVICE. CONTROL OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC. "A MATTER OF VITAL IMPORTANCE." [*B£SS ASSOCIATION.] (Received February 5, 9.26 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. Sir Joseph Ward conferred with Sir William Lyne, Minister of Trade and Customs. In the course of an interview, Sir Joseph Ward said : " Regarding the formation of a Council of Advice, we have Americans and Germans right under our lee — a positive menace to us, and the British Government lets them, take all the best harbours in Samoa, and control the South Pacific. It is a matter of vital importance both to New Zealand and Australia. But the Bri.tisb. Government does not see this, because it is ignorant of the interests involved. " With a Council of Advice in existence we could prevent any further blunders being made at our very doors. The council would be useful in regard to protecting our rights to exclude aliens when treaties aro being made. Tho couacil could keep our views before the Government of the day. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Premier of Canada, in private letters to me, also expresses himself in favour of such a council, and with tRo help of Mr. Deakin, the thrco of us ought to be able to carry it through."