IMPERIAL FEDERATION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, Issue LXXII, 26 May 1917, Page 5

IMPERIAL FEDERATION.

SIR E. CARSON'S VIEWS. IMPERIAL WAR CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS. SUGGESTIONS CONCERNING INDIA.

LONDON, May 24. Sir Edward Carson (First Lord of the Admiralty) was a guest at a luncheon of the British Producers' Organisation.

Lord Beresford, who presided, declared that the submarine menace was not yet in hand, for only under-wa,ter craft in large numbers could beat the submarines.

Sir Edward Carson, in replying, deprecated attacks on the navy. The war demonstrated the following fundamental facts: Firstly, what our resources were; secondly, that by a little trouble and organisation they might be used to make the Empire self-sup-porting; thirdly, that blood is thicker than water; and, fourthly, that we had been living in a "Fool's Paradise," allowing these resources to be used in strengthening our enemies and forging weapons enabling them to fight us. The war had been fought in vain if that state of affairs was not «nded.

When lie looked back at Imperial preference it seemed to him that it was, preference for the German Empire; also that the "most favored nation" clause really meant a combination of our enemies to our disadvantage. People talked wildly about Imperial federation without knowing what it meant. It could not be Imperial federation if it meant an Act -of Parliament that was going to bind the various units. He did not mind how loose the system of building the Empire was so long as it was the best working system. They must »ot try to tighten the bond artificially, but allow it to work its own way. A meeting of a Council of Empire as a Cabinet from year to year was the nearest approach at the moment they could get to the ideals at which they were aiming.

A Blue Book of 163 pages, dealing with the proceedings of the Imperial War Conference, contains resolutions already ©abled, and extracts of the minutes, also a number of papers which were laid before the conference, notably a memorandum on emigration to India and to the Dominions, presented by Indian representatives, which "die conference recommended to the favorable cons^err.tian of the GovernMents concerned.

The memorandum suggests that Indians already permanently settled in the dominions should be allowed to bring their wives, subject to the rule of monogamy, and in other respects be not less privileged than Japanese immigrants. Future admissions to be •m lines not less favorable than those governing other Asiatics. If this is impossible, there might be reciprocated treatment with India by each ■dominion.

If a dominion is determined to exclude these two classes, India should be free to do the same, it being clearly recognised that exclusion in either case should not be due to the motive of race prejudice, but the outcome of different economic conditions. In the event of such exclusion, reciprocal arrangements should be made granting facilities for the admission of tourists and students, and business visits entailing temporary residence. __ There were enthusiastic demonstrations on Empire Day in London, and the provinces. Sir Thomas Mackenzie presented Dunedin's flag to the Holden Street School, Battersea. A feature of the school celebrations was exhortations to food economy.