IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Marlborough Express, Volume XLV, Issue 93, 21 April 1911, Page 5

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Hm INTERNATIONAL SITUATION.

CJOLWIAL PREMIERS TO BE TAKEN INTO CONFIDENCE.

[PRESS ASSOCIATION.] ((Received April -"SO, 11.15 p.m.)

LONDON, April $0

The H«hx. ;W. E. :<Sruinness'& motion in favor *i$ adding the .discussion of -the International situation to .the Imperial Conference agenda paper was withdrawn, after Mr Harcotirt had promisejl not to withhold any information the Prime Ministers - desired to h»Tje. Mr Guinness welcomed New Zealand's proposal for aii Advisory. Council as a real step in -Che direction j of federation. He doubted whether the High Commissioners were sufficiently .closely in touch witii colonial ' opinion. The Hon. W. ; Ormsby-vGore, in seconding the motion, said before Australia's resolution regarding -the naval co-operation status of" the Dominion Navies was discussed Sir lEdward Grey should instruct the Premiers in! the relation between Great Britain's Naval policy and her foreign policy. \ Mr E-. Qrawshaw-Williams urged that; the existing secretariat be ■developed into a permanent representative Advisory Council. The Eight Hon. A. Lyttelton declared tihat almost the whole strength of the Navy was concentrated at Home, aiid the Vontingencies of the ■'' Far East ♦might make it necessary to add a great, many battleships'in order to protect the Pacific. It was noteworthy that neither Canada, Ausralia, nor New Zealand had undertaken to join in all British wars, j Mr Harcourt said that it was always the Government's intention to take the Prim© Ministers into consultation on matters of^ great Imperial concern. The Government would proffer information on condition of absolute secrecy. The Premiers will also be asked to the Imperial Defence Committee.

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