FUTURE OF THE EMPIRE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 133, 12 June 1909, Page 5

FUTURE OF THE EMPIRE.

THE COLONIES' POSITION. FORMAL EQUALITY RECOGNISED • LONDON, nth June. At a luncheon given to tho delegates by the Constitutional Club, Mr. Balfour, in proposing the toast of "Our Guests," said the debates of the past week upon the subject of Imperial defence must have caused a glow of pride in every man with Imperial instincts. Everybody recognised that the parental stage* in Britain's relations with her colonies was over. They had now leached the stage of formal equality. He w r as unable even to conceive what form the .general and closer organisation of the unity of the Empire might trke; but for purposes of defence it might take shape in the development of a Defence Committee, on which might, be heard the voices of men with colonial experience — which had already proved of great value. Mr. James O. Fairfax, of the Sydney Morning Herald proprietary, in responding to the toast, said the dele- j gates had been struck very forcibly by the way in which party lines, if not obliterated, had yet been completely ignored. They had heard much that vould help them to impress Imperial ideas upon the people of their own lands. After referring to Lord Curzon and Lord Milner, and the latter's recent tour in Canada. Mr. Fairfax expressed the hope that other pro-Consuls would follow his example in other Dominions of the Empire. ON THE SOCIAL SIDE. PARTIES AND RECEPTIONS. LONDON, 11th June. Yesterday afternoon delegates and their lady friends were entertained by the Duke of Wellington at a garden party at Apsley House, Hyde Park. Among the guests were many foreign Ambassadors and officers competing in the military sports at the Olympia. ■ In the evening small parties of the I delegates and their ladies were entertsined at dinner by Mr. Balfour, the I Earl of Crowe, Lord Northcote, Lord i Hindlip, and Lord Midleton. Afterwards the guests attended a reception given by the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland at Stafford House, which was attended by 2000 persons.