IN PEACOCK'S FEATHERS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 135, 10 June 1907, Page 4

IN PEACOCK'S FEATHERS.

One of the most important departures made by the recent Conference in London was that which changed the nature of the gathering from " Colonial " to "Imperial." Theretofore representatives of the Colonies met and consulted together under the presidency of the Colonial Secretary, and the decisions reached formed the | subject matter of business to be developed subsequently by negotiations ! between the Governments of the dependencies and the Colonial Office, 'much in the same way as of old. The change brought about by the last Conference might truly be called a - revolution. Henceforth the Colonies will meet the Mother Country upon a footing of equality. No longer will it be I a case of mother meeting daughters 'to talk over family affairs, but of sisters in council. This is in accord with the spirit of the times, and the Colonial Premiers are justified in making the most of the part they played in the new development. It is not right, however, that the impression should be allowed to get abroad that the change was effected against the wishes of the Home Government. There was that in the speeches of some of the delegates which, whether intentionally or not, was calculated to create the impression that the Colonies were obliged to do battle for their rights. These rights, to which reference was so constantly made, are, shortly, to complete self-government and to be treated on the. level of copartners with the Mother Country. In truth there was no need for battling; all that the Colonies claimed and got had been conceded beforehand by that Government which is declared in some quarters to be composed of Little Englanders, but which had already shown its practical faith in South Africa. It is illuminating, in the face of all that has been said by opponents, and unhappily by some of the Colonial Premiers, to read the remarks made by Mr Bryce, the -Ambassador to America, at Ottawa, before the Conference met. Mr Bryce was a member of the Campbell-Bannerman Cabinet before he went to Washington, and speaking at a banquet given in his honour by the Canadian Club, he said, amongst other things: "We are all united in affection for 6ur colonial brothers.. We are all, united in prizing our connexion with them and their connexion with us. We all desire that it shall be perpetuated. We are also united in recognising to the full that their self-government must be complete. ... If there is ever to be closer connexion between the Mother Country and the sister States it must be on the basis of equality of co-part-nership. Nothing can be imposed from Great Britain; everything must come as much with the will of every sister State as with the will of Great .Britain herself. On that we in England are all agreed." Here is tli« whole position, as it now exists, in a nutshell, m a speech made by an exmember of the "Little England" Cabinet many days before the Gonference assembled!