MORE IMPERIALISM.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9541, 19 June 1911, Page 5

MORE IMPERIALISM.

MR. BALFOUR'S DREAM OF

EMPIRE.

SIR WILFRID LAURIER ON CANADA'S LOYALTY.

[bl JiIISUTBIO TKUSUIuM-CmBIUHT.) IPEU FbKSS ABMMIATION.I Received, June 19, 8.5 a.m. LONDON, June 18. Mr Balfour, presiding at the luncheon of the Constitutional Club.in honour of the Overseas' Premiere, rejoiced that the latter should honour the Club. The Premiers themselves were Party politicians and knew that tho party system was essential to the working of free institutions and representative government. Therefore, all were aware that the party, system was not inconsistent with national unity. They welcomed them to a party gathering in no party spirit, and recognised that their business in England could only be conducted through the Government of the country for the time being. Their visit concerned the development of the greatest experiment ever made in government by man. The time might come when the great and growing Dominions would 'feel it preferable to go their own way like adults of a family. That' might happen to be worldly wise. He would e;i,v such a contingency was probable, yet lie thought there was a higher and better wav. He dreamed other dreams of the future. He thought that as they more thoroughly realised in every community of the Empire that each was to manage its own affairs, carry out its own life and make its own experiments as political atoms, it was upon that solid basis that they would build up something the world had never 6een—a coalition of free selfgoverning communities, conscious that they were never more masters of their own fate than when recognising that they were part of a great whole. Mr Balfour said he saw the beginnings today whereof posterity would see the full fruition. Such Conferences as those now proceeding would, help towards the realisation of the ideal and the great cause wherefore the visitors were labouring. Sir "Wilfrid Laurier. responding, said the Canadians had hoisted the policv of British preference to the masthead, there to stay. Reciprocity with the United States would not involve the slightest danger to the Motherland's interests. "Whatever privileges were granted to others would be giv«n equally to Britain.