THE PROPOSED IMPERIAL COUNCIL.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 61, 13 March 1907, Page 4

THE PROPOSED IMPERIAL COUNCIL.

The Prime Ministers of the various self-governing British " dominions beyond the seas " are hastening towards London to attend the Imperial Conference, which sits next month. Our own Premier, Sir Joseph Ward, is probably there bywthis time. The assemblage wiirijhcliide for the first time a typical representative of~ the Boer people, and the proceedings will acquire special interest from the fact that one of the questions to be approached will be that of the future settlement of the South African question from the Cape to the Zambesi. So far as we are concerned there are,'however, other subjects of much more, pressing concern, though we do not forget that under all and through all other considerations runs the thread of the great Imperial connection to the need for the strengthening which the Conference, in the first instance, owes its being. There are the questions of tariffs, of defence, and of, the treaty provisions with Eastern 'peoples. These are all matters that may be discussed at the Conference, but their adjustment upon a practical basis anust. be reserved for &fcher agencies."" Perhaps the delegates will be able to get 'nearer to.a full - understanding witii.Regard to defence than in respect o£>nything else. Something like a working .hypothesis may be formulated,: at least, but this must

necessarily exclude details. ; In the matter of treaties, too, some general principles may be.laid down, but what is wanted is a," modus" by which the Imperial Government and the Colonies concerned may,be able to,take counsel and act in harmony with each other. It is proposed to achieve this end by means of an Imperial Council, but there is the initial difficulty of deciding as to what fornt this Council shall take. There are two alternative proposals. One is\that the body should sit permanently in London, and be composed of representatives of the Imperial units, and the other, that the Council should consist of the Prime Ministers, communication to be maintained by cabled; To both serious objections have rjbeen opposed. It is argued on the* one hand that a;-per-manent representative body sitting in London would speedily get out of touch with colonial sentiment, and, on the other, that a CoVihcil of Premiers would too often entangle Imperialism with party strife, The Conference may hit upon a third .alternative, or it may strengthen the claims of one of the original two. The idea of a permanent Council, which would be, in effect, a species of Imperial Parliament, is not regarded with favour by Canada, nor do we think any of the other Colonial Governments w<>uld consent to share with such an institution the power and authority they have been accustomed to exercise unfettered. The question is of immense importance, and the Conference will devote* its talent and energies to the task of finding a solution. We can only hope that a proposal generally acceptable will be evolved.