IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 14573, 23 May 1911, Page 6

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

A PRESS SUMMARY.

GUESSING AT POSSIBILITIES,

Pr«*s Association—By TelejTßph—Copyright

LONDON, May 22,

The ' Dally Telegraph' indulges in a retrospect of the personalities attending past and the present Conferences. It says: "Sir Wilfrid Laurier will renew friendships, and we shall find Sir J. G. Ward still speaking manfully and sturdily for the smallest but perhaps the .most enthusiastic and intensely British of all the Dominions. Mr Botha will represent United South Africa. Mr Fisher is a newcomer, and because he is the head of the Labor party who won such a sweepin<* victory at the last elections there will be great curiosity to see how he ranges himself among his brother .Premiers. But it is certain that his Imperialism will he no less sincere than that of Air Deakin, even if his methods are different." After mentioning Newfoundland, the paper adds: "AH the members of the Conference are equally welcome to the people of the Motherland. They como eager to do their best for the young nationalities of the Empire, but everything points to the prospect that there will be no great experiments, and that the Imperial framework will remain much the same after the Conference as now. A full and uee drscussiun on Sir J. CJ. Ward's and the other Dominions' proposals should, however, bo most informative, enabling the Motherland to judge as to the prospects of an early or ultimate agreement on great problems. It is encouraging to know that the Imperial (Government have proposed to discuss the question of Labor Exchanges and their relation with the Dominions. Their credit is involved for having devised an acceptable scheme. In the meantime, all Imperialists, irrespective of party, earnestly hope that the Conference will advance smoothly to a successful and prosperous issue." A STATE-OWNED CABLE. "LONDON, May 22. 'The Times's' Ottawa correspondent advises that Canadians believe tliat the Imperial Conference will settle the question of a State-owned cable between Canada, and the Motherland. Sir Wilfrid Laurier. with the co-operation of Australia and New Zealand, who are interested equally with Canada, is expected to bring the matter to a. successful conclusion. The fact that the ownership of all the leading cables is passing under foreign control will ir-ake a strong additional reason why that course should be adopted. It is not believed in Ottawa that the control of the British Post Office over foreign-owned cables can be more than nominal. THE SOCIAL SIDE. LONDON, May 22. This morning sixty guests attended -Mr Lloyd George's luncheon to the Oversea Premiers. To-night Mr Asquith entertains the delegates to the Imperial Conference at dinner, while their ladies will be the guests of Earl Granad. A reception at the Foreign Office will follow. GUESTS OF THE KIXG. LONDON, May 22. (Receive 1 May 23, at 9.47 a.m.) The Prime Ministers and their ladies attended luncheon at Buckingham Palace. The delegates afterwards met at the Colonial Office to arrange the social engagements in connection with the Conference. The Prince of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, the Duke and Duchess of Argyll, Mr and Mrs Asquith, Mr and Airs Harcourt were present at the luncheon. The King chatted with the delegates individually for an hour and a half. There were no set speeches. The other guests were Colonial Office officials, ladies and gentlemen of the Court, Mr and Mrs Batchelor (Australia). Dv and Mrs Findlay, Senator Pearce, and the representatives from Cape Town and Rhodesia, to the number altogether of forty-eight. THE OMEN-MONGER BUSY. LONDON, May 22. (Received May 23, at 9 a.m.) The 'Daily Mail' asks whether it. is not a good omen that the Coronation and Conference should happen in the same year. The. last Conference was directly and indirectly responsible for the confederation of South Africa, the creation of colonial armies and navies, the reduction t.f tariffs against British goods, and penny postage. But even more important is t!t«' effect, the Conferences have had on the opinions, tendencies, and policies of the Empire. Th,' paper emphasises Australia's protest against the Declaration oi London. TIMES OF SITTING. PRIONS ADMISSION PROBABLE. LONDON. May 22. (Received May 23, at 12.17 p.m.) The Conference will sit four mornings weekly at the. Foreign Office. The other sittings will be according to necessity. Air Asquith's guests to-night included Lord Loreburn, Lord Aberdeen, Ixrrd Alinto, Lord Beauchamp. Ixird Milner, Lord Kitchener, Lord Tennyson. Lord Denman, Lord Brassey. Sir G. Reid, and Sir Wm. Hall-Jones. The Conference opens at eleven to-mur-row morning. It is likely that the Pross will be admitted. Mr Asquith will make the speech of welcome-to the Conference, Lady Ward sat at the King's left and Princess Christian on his rkdit at the Buckingham Palace luncheon. SIR J. G. WARD'S HOPES. LONDON, May 22. Jr. an interview Sir .1. G. Ward said that tho Empire was so big and scattered, and its growth, eo rapid, that tho necessity of devising a method of united action in great emergencies and of vital interest was imperative. Jt was essentia] to have in peace time a system which would always bo ready and effective for operation in time of war. He expressed the hope that tho Conference would be convinced that it was possible to erect the machinery for tho ,'iccomi>lishmeui of this purpose. Within a, quad-tor of a century the Oversea Dominions would bo jnore powerful in population, wealth, and production than the Motherland to-day. He was referring not to accuinulated wealth, but to the direct productiveness of the soil and industries. The voice of the Dominions must be heard in m aliens affecting the Empire se a whole. The brightest and befit intellects of the Old Country and the New ought to combine in producing a system for invigorating the body and the limbs of tho greatest Empire the world has seen.