NOTABLE CONGRESS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 140, 13 June 1912, Page 7

NOTABLE CONGRESS

♦ EMPIRE CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE SPEECH BY MR. ASQUITH PRINCIPLE OF ALL-RED MAIL ROUTE. By Telegraph— Pres« Association —Copyright. LONDON, 12th June. At the Chambers of Commerce Congress a,t the Guildhall, the Prime Minister, Mr. Asquith, in welcoming the delegates on behalf of the . Government, said the periodical gathering of the Empire's commercial representatives was one of the most convincing proofs and surest safeguards of our Imperial loyalty, unity, and strength. For several years a quarter of the Motherland's imports came from the overseas Dominions, and over a thiM of her exports went there, the aggregate trade amounting to no fewer than four hundred millions sterling. Lord Desborough, in his presidential address, pointed out that it was daily becoming more apparent that if the Empire was to live it mu6t consolidate in commerce as well as in defence. Great Britain a generation ago was supreme in commerce and feared in arms, but the progress oi other countries had more than threatened her supremacy in commerce, and ©he- mu6t look to her Empire to maintain the position which she had once held alone. Referring to the question of Imperial defence, Lord Desborough said they appreciated in Britain the spirit demonstrated in the Dominions. The Congress reaffirmed the principle of an All-Red mail route connecting Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. ' NEXT GATHERING WILL TAKE PLACE AT TORONTO. MOTION IN FAVOUR OF PREFERENCE. (Received June 13, 10 a.m.) . ' LONDON, 12th June. The Chambers of Commerce Congress resolved that the next Congress be held at Toronto. . One hundred and twenty-two Chambers favoured a motion for preference. Nine voted against the motion, and fifty-eight did not vote. The ICing received the delegates at Buckingham Palace.