IMPERIAL CONFERENCE BLUE BOOK.

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

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE BLUE BOOK.

FURTHER INTERESTING EXTRACTS.

(Received May 26. 9.15 a.m.; ™ «, ~ LONDON. May 25. •? £ Book- dealing with the Impfeiial Conference minutes, shows that

Mr Long, in his opening address, said ' he was satisfied that Germany wa6 making most complete preparations agauust competition after the war. In battle we nad been found unprepared, but he hoped we should not again bo caught unprepared in the peaceful conflict which would come after the war, and in ■ which we ought to do something more than hold our own. Therefore he believed the Conference must be helpful. General Smuts thought that matters or war should be settled by the Conference, but Sir Joseph Ward disagreed and said he thought the Conference should discuss matters that would afreet the Empire after the war. If w.e began this twelv© months after the war we would begin twelve months too late. He hoped to see proposals to circumvent the enemy's insidious attacks concerning our vital trade interests. There should be discussion concerning the value of the Pacific to the Empire. Also subvention of British shipping should be discussed and the Conference should deal with naturalisation of aliens after the war in order to make action uniform. There were lengthy discussions on the care of soldiers' graves, the constitution of the Empire, and the double income tax. Mr Massey took exception to the fact that the draft charter for the care of graves did not specifically mention Gallipoh. Sir R. L. Borden thought that the chapter should make reference to all the theatres of war, and Mr Massey contended that other places were not in the I same position because Gallipoli was in an enemy country. Other members pointed out that Palestine. Salonika, and Mesopotamia were in the same category as Gallipoli, and the Conference Ultimately adopted the resolution previously cabled, and also one) that maintenance, of the graves should be made a national charge. Sir It. L. Borden, speaking on the resolution dealing with (the constitution of the Empire, said he looked forward to development along the line of an increasingly equal status for the Dominions and Mother Country. He believed the Dominions fully realised the ideal of an Imperial Commonwealth of united nations, with the Crown as a tie. "Under present conditions it would be unwise for the Conference to attempt to enter into the subject. He hoped the delegations ait the next Conference would i be thoroughly representative of all parties.

Mr Massey, in seconding tihe resolution, agreed with General Smuts. He considered the circumstances of the Empire would entirely preclude a Federal solution, and an attempt so to run different races, languages and economic conditions, eveta in common concerns, would absolutely court disaster. Sir Joseph. Ward strongly opposed any attempt to hand over control of individual Defence forces to any Empire Parliament, but reiterated his previously expressed view on the necessity for such a Parliament. Meanwhile there ought to be overseas representatives in the British Cabinet.

During the discussion of the double income tax, Treasury officials stalted that it would be absolutely impossible to enquire into the subject until after the war owing to the depleted £rtaff.