The Empire Conference.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4458, 27 January 1917, Page 5

The Empire Conference.

I© be Held Mext Month. Icunifiiefis 5 Advice and Assistance Wanted. Frank Statement by Sir. LloydGeorge. Our Right to a Fair Say. (United Press Association —Copyright.)

(United Service.) (Received Jan. 26, 7.10 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 25. Mr Lloyd-George, interviewed by a correspondent of the United Cable Service on the Imperial War Council, said he had urgently invited the dominions- Premiers because he desired advice and assistance in coming to decisions as to the conduct of fihe war and negotiations for peace. He regarded the Council as the beginning of a new epoch in the history of the Empire. The war had changed us and taught us more than we yet understood. It had opened a new age for us. “We want to get into that age together with our fellows overseas just as we have gone through darkness and shed blood and treasure together,” he declared. Nothing affecting tlie dominions in the conduct of the war or the negotiations for peace will be excluded from the purview of the Council’s meetings. Domestic matters affecting the United Kingdom will be the only reservation. Replying to a question as to whether the discussions would! include the fate of the German colonies, Mr. Lloyd-George said that was one obvious question, but there Wvere many questions of equal moment. All would be thrashed out and the war policy of the Empire clearly defined, besides post-war questions such as demobilisation, the emigration of our people to different parts of the Empire, the settlement 'of soldiers on the land, commerce, and industry. In reply to another question he. said he would not hesitate to break precedents at such a time. The Empire had thrown itself, its very soul, into the Avar, and we should be failing in our duty to it if we did not take every possible step to see that its leaders got together from time to time. Mr. Lloyd-George added that it seemed an impossible and undemocratic proposition to think that the overseas nations had raised and placed. in the field armies containing an enormous proportion of the best manhood and that they did not Avant to nave a real say in determining w-liat use the men Avere being put to. For that reason, one of the first acts of the neAV Government was to ask the overseas Premiers to attend, not a formal Imperial Conference, but to sit in. an Executive Cabinet of the Empire. He said the Conference should sit as soon as possible, as tkie Avar Avas not Avon, and he wanted to concert our efforts to exert our maximum strength at the critical moment. Further, they were most anxious that during the last and most trying phase of the Avar the Empire should present to the world an absolutely united front.

“The British Government, in the prosecution of the Avar to a finish and m negotiating for peace Avants to knoAV that it will be carrying out a policy agreed upon by representatives of tlie Empire sitting in plenary council,” he added. “We stand on the verge of the greatest liberation the Avorld has seen since the French revolution. Do you tell me the people who stood together and staked literally everything to secure that liberation are not going to find some way of perpetuating that unity aftenvarcls on an equal basis? I am certain the people of the Empire will have found a unity in the Avar sudh as they never Aristaed before. lam certain that the nations which luiA r e borne the best of the burden of the day in overthroAving militarism will take a leading share in building that new earth Avhich Avill be made possible by their sacrifice.”

ARRANGEMENTS BEING HURRIED ONMR. LLOYD-GEORGE’S URGENCY. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assuj .(Recerted Jan. 26, 7.15 p.m.-) LONDON, Jan. 26. Arrangements are being .completed for the Empire War Conference, Avhich is expected to be held in Feb-i Alary, unless a delegate is coming from Australia, Sir R. L. Borden’s acceptance brings Canada into line with South Africa, India, New Zealand, and NeAVfoundland. , ~ ~ A Colonial Office telegram to all the dominions stating definitely that the Conference Avijl be held at the earliest possible date after the arrival of the representatives, indicates Mr. LloydGeorge’s urgency.