CABLE NEWS. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.- COPYRIGHT.]

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 116, 17 May 1907, Page 5

CABLE NEWS. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.- COPYRIGHT.]

WORK OF THE CONFERENCE. ♦ ■ ■ PREMIERS AS CRITICS. "ONLY A TEMPORARY REFUSAL." THE LIBERALS' FEAR. AN EXPERIMENT MIGHT BE SUCCESSFUL. rauss association. LONDON, ICth May. Mr. Deakin and Dv. Jamc3on were giveu a tremendous roception at a crowded meeting of City men, hald at the Baltic Mercantile and Shipping Exchange yesterday. iN"O DECISIVE STEP. In returning thatu^ Dr. Jameson said he was disappointed that the Imperial Conference had not made a decisive step forward in the direction of consolidation of tho Empire. Whatever had been achieved was mainly due to Mr. Deakin's energy, pluck, and eloquence. The substitution of the word " Imperial " instead of " Colonial " Conference meant tho emancipation of the conference from the aegjs of the Colonial Office, and meant that future euaterences would' be ps between Governments. He regretted that effectivo machinery for the consolidation of ijhe Empire had not been obtained, owing to the secretariat, after the hardest ' fight at tho conference, remaining a department of tho Colonial Office. CASE FOB PREFERENCE NOT ANSWERED. Ho was convinced that tho present arrangements would prove such a failure that the Premiers would obtain officient machinery at the next conference. Both sentimental and material links were required to cement the Empire. He complained the Government had not attemptod to answer tho Premier's case foi preference. It had only knocked down bogies of its own erection. He believed tho Government was afraid to make even a Httlo experiment in the direction of reciprocal trade because it would protvo a success. "IMMUTABLE" LAWS. Mr. Deakin emphatically denied that tba Premiers had in the slightest degree attempted to embarrass tho Government from party or political motives. No reciprocity was possiblo unless preference was mutual. Australia was prepared to build hor half of the bridge to the contro arch, where sho must await tho Motheriand'3 approach bpforj tho kojstono was dropped which would complete the structure. Many of tho arguments which had beon advanced to prevent tariff reform wore absolutely contrary to Australian experience. Ho ridiculed the importance attached to tho phrase " immutable laws " in connection vsith frcetrade, saying that tho term '"imaginary laws" would bo truer. WORLD'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS FBEETRADE. Ho dwelt on tho smail mcasuro of success which sixty years' advocacy of freetrade had had upon the world, and doclaved that far-sighted foreigners already foresaw the advent of preference in the British Empire, and were taking nmsui-es to secure the best markets, which would be found in tho British colonios. If tho prospect of preference did that, what would not a 10 per cent. duty accomplish ? Australians were f reetraderd to tho extent of one-third of their imports, adopting freo trade or prooctioa according as it paid best. COMMERCE AND EMPIRE. Commerce neodod fostering. It was impossible to apply tho principle* of cooperation better than in developing the resources of ono's own nation. Many persons argued that the strength of the Empiro rested in her ships, her colonies, and her commerco, but without commerce thoro would bo neither ships nor colonies. Tho Empiro was not only a great armed forco, a civilising agency, and a school of culturo, but it was also a gigaijtio business enterpriso which ought to be directed op business principlos. The principal aim of the Governments ought to be to fortify and sustain Britain's commerce. If their ancestors had fought to establish it, svvely it was worth our while to protect it. COLONIES' HANDS ARE STILL OUT-STRETCHED. The Premiers wished to see the whole machinery of commerce, as well as of public life, applied to securing unity oi the Empire. Although tho conference had failed to accomplish much directly, yet its indirect results repaid ths sacrifices the delegates had mada tc attend. When other nations found that commercial unity was so enormously valuable as a means of developing national life, why should Britain throw aside 00 potent an instrument? The hands of the colonies were still outstretched, because th«y recognised that the present polite refusal of preference was only temporary. SELF-RELIANCE AND THE OLD COUNTRY. Since the Empire's whole force w»s employed to protect trade in war time, surely it was justifiable to expeot this country and the Empire to protect trade in peaco timo. " Tho colonies believe it you even if you have ceased to believe in yourselves," said Mr. Dealcin in conclusion. "'We believe that within this nation lies a force capablo of rousing you to greater and more lofty heights than ever, enabling you to retain tho proud position in which your forefathers plaoed you." Mr. Deakin resumed his seat amid prolonged cheers, the audience singing ' For They are Jolly Good Fellows." SIR WILLIAM LYNE. GOVERNMENT CALEOUS TO PREFERENCE. MR. ASQUITH'S FICTION. PACIFIC OCEAN 1 * AND COASTAL LIMITS. (Received May 17, 8.27 a.m.) LONDON, 16th May. Sir. Wm. Lyne, Commonwealth Minis-,,