IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 135, 24 May 1911, Page 1

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

COLONIAL SECRETARIAT. ■ L_ i [press association. —copyright]. London. May 23. “The Daily Chronicle” anticipates that the first development at the conference will be the recognition of the national status of the Dominions by their separation from the rest of the colonies. The programme shows how large is the sphere of co-operation in various matters. The first step in the development of the conference will be the development of the secretariat. It suggests that the secretariat might be imperialised. 1 THE NEED FOR PUBLICITY. “The Daily Express” states that once in every four years the Prime Ministers of the Dominions spend ! a month in England, and we show our sense of the privilege of getting to know what they have to say by making it impossible to hear their voices. “The Morning Leader” hopes that, without impairing the efficiency of the conference, a satisfactory method may be found of gratifying the very natural public desire to hear what suc.h welcome visitors as Sir Wilfrid Laurier, General Botha, and Mr. Fisher’ have to sav. ; t I FOREIGN RELATIONS AND ' DEFENCE. i I “The Times” states that the Imperial Conference of 1906 estab-' lished the equal national status of the five constituent parts of the Empire and declared itself a conference of Governments with Governments. As such it reassembles in 1911. The quest ion of national status being settled, the question of national responsibility takes its place. Shall these Governments have five foreign policies, or be, jointly responsible for one policy C‘ There can be no doubt about the answer they will give. Sentiment will indicate it even more clearly than interest, for come what may,; the peoples of the Empire are de-; termined to be one. But sentiment will not solve how in practice a single policy is to be maintained. That is the pressing problem this conference must lace. The need can only be met by closer touch between the five Cabinets during all ! the months of every year. The conference may not be able to agree on any immediate step towards that end, but it will have done much if it only demonstrates the urgency of the step. The importance of the present conference is in the direction of foreign relations and defence, which will be for the fir-t time the main subjects of discussion. THE CONFERENCE OPENED. ' DAILY SUMMARY TO BE ISSUED. i . ; (Received 24, 10.40 a.m.) London, May 23. i The Conference lasted two and. a-half hours. Mr. Asquith in a half-hour's speech made sympathetic references. Mr. Edward Bannerman emphas-: ised the non-party character of the, conference. Five Premiers replied. The Conference has decided to sit Mondays. Tuesdays. Thursdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. if urgent. Sir J. Ward withdrew his resolution in favour of admission of the Press: other delegates considering that speaking would be hampered. The official summary will be issued daily. Sir J. M ard moved his Imperial Council resolution but had not finished his speech when the sitting ended.