IMPERIAL CONFERENCES

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 116, 13 November 1923, Page 8

IMPERIAL CONFERENCES

History of formation

TO-DAY'S ROTARY LECTURE.

_ "Imperial Conferences'.' was the subject of to-day's address at the Rotary Club luncheon. The chairman was Eotarian R. A. Loughnan, and the speaker for the day Rotarian.D. S. Smith. Speaking on the subject, Rotarian Smith remarked that some fifty years ago the colonies were regarded as somewhat : unnecessary appendages. Great Britain was supreme, and the colonieswere expected to ripen and drop off, as independent countries. However, in the last quarter of the 19th century a change took place, commencing with the partition_ of South Africa. The British Empire's first real recognition of the value of the colonies was in 1887 when a Conference was called in England, and contributions to Empire defence were decided on. At that Conference, strangely enough, the question of inter-Empire preference was raised. So far. as foreign policy was concerned, this was left entirely to. Britain. So matters went on until a number of years later, when Canada called a Conference. This Conference saw the preference matters again raised , and England was asked to renounce treaties with Belgium and Germany. In. 1897, at the time of the Diamond Jubilee, another Conference was held in London, the colonies' Premiers being.present. At this time there had been a considerable change in world politics. There was an important event in domestic relations, when Mrf Chamberlain had taken over the portfolio of .Secretary for the Colonies. He presided"'at^-'the 1897 Conference, and suggested an Empire Council. The Premiers shrank from so taking a part in the Empire's politics. Five years passed, and the South African War .took place. There resulted .a deepening feeling that, the colonies had become great national' parts. In 1902, Mr. Chamberlain again raised his preference views, and Imperial migration. Again the colonial attitude did hot move with Mr.' Chamberlain's views. Later Mr. Chamberlain went to South Africa, and after that agreed that Empire preference, as suggested by the Premiers, was the right step. He returned to.England, and in his changes rent his own party. The next thing that happened was that the Liberals swept the Conservatives from" their power, and Free Trade. had from that date to this. prevented the Empire preference scheme. In' 1907, the only real advantage was the informat tion'of the Conference's own constitution. It was decided that it would be a fouryearly conference of Government. This recognised the basft of willing co-opera-tion in Empire Government. A year later the whole Empire practically sprang to arms to build the British Fleet. Following this, Australia and New. Zealand brought national training into effect. In 1911 there was the'first real conference of Government*. Britain took an important step, and took the whole Conference into its secrets. As a result, a common purpose was decided on. Internal and external policy- was discussed, but preference was barely mentioned. Then came the war . and the various war conferences, at which war was the only matter discussed. In 192 i the first post-war Conference was called, and India was first recognised and was represented. This Conference worked hard, and had a great effect in maintaining world peace. It was most necessary it was announced, that . Britain should act as a moderator between East and West. The Disarmament Conference rose out of the deliberations of this most importable Conference. It waa in peculiar circumstances that the present Imperial Conference was meeting. Some most effective means were required to enable the nation to stand and act together. Mr. Baldwin had now taken on Mr. Chamberlain's role, and what would happen had yet to be seen. If the people of the Empire could not work together then they could not expect the more separate entities of the League of Nations to work together.- Some new representative method was wanted for , }?. L. eaf; uc- It could not work successfully if it was comprised of every small State of every nation. If the other half orthe Enghsh-speakitur world was represented, the League of Nations would have a chance. (Applause.)