COLONIAL STATESMEN IN LONDON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 15 April 1907, Page 1

COLONIAL STATESMEN IN LONDON.

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. ENTERTAINMENT AND HONORS. I United Phess Assocurws. -CopydlUHT.l LONDON, Saturday. Mr Deakin and Mr Hughes were entertained at luncheon by the editor of the "Daily Chronicle," at the National Liberal Club, to meet a dozen editors of Liberal newspapers. Mr Deakin, on behalf of the Colonial Premiers, strongly urged . Lord Elgin to admit the Press to the Imperial Conference. He declared the Premier did uot leave their posts for four months . o sit with closed doors and keep their .nstituents in ignorance. The Edinburgh University conferred the honorary degree of Doctorship of Laws on Sir Joseph Ward, Dr Jameson, Premier of Cape Colony), and Mr F. Moore (Premier of Natal). Dean Gray, in conferring the degrees, remarked that Sir Joseph Ward's dominant characteristics were perseverance, energy, and •are business capacity. Three thousand people witnessed the -.onferring of the degrees in McEwan Sail, and there was great enthusiasm. At the- University Union's banquet, Sir J. G. Ward declared that personally he was very hopeful that .the historical conference about to be held would prove resultful. It was almost in insult to expect anything else. If nothing was achieved 60on there would je no necessity for conferences. Referring to the creation of an Advisory Imperial Council, he urged that some body was necessary to assist in settling matters of Imperial and colonial concern during the intervals between conferences. He proceeded to say that anless the Motherland and the colonies woke up and stood shoulded to shoulder md acted simultaneously and vigorous'y, they would be unable to obtain an ncrease of their present trade in the ace of the persistent efforts of subsiliscd foreign competitors. He admitted that great delicacy was necessary re;arding the naval defence problem, but said the necessities of the Empire denanded united and practical action in .rder to prepare in times of peace an vbsolutely effective organisation for ar. His speech evoked great applause. Sir Francis Hopgood states that the will be excluded at the opening f the Imperial Conference, which itself will determine as to subsequent procedure. It is believed that Sir H. C. Bannernan will merely formally welcome the 'remiers and make a non-committal reference to the programme, leaving Lord Elgin to conduct the proceedings. The Premiers are very dissatisfied at he arrangements. Mr Deakin warmly advocates the fullest publicity, urging it in regard to ilmost all the questions to be discussed. 3e has written to Sir H. C. Bannernan .protesting against secrecy, and insists upon at least a pretty full daily precis of the results, disclosing the sentiments of the different speakers. Lord Elgin hopes that IS sittings, ex.ending to May Bth, will be sufficient, though this is considered doubtful. Neither Mr Deakin nor .Sir Joseph Ward has received an invitation to appoint representatives to any AngloFrench committee to consider the questions of salaries and conditions of service of the officials of the Joint Court in connection with the New Hebrides Convention, They are rather disposed iot to assume any responsibility in the natter. Since they have not been consulted, Mr Deakin raises the whole Tuestion at the Imperial Conference at the earliest opportunity, including b rench steamers conveying intoxicants -o the group. The Australian merchants gave a banquet at the Trocadero to 150 guests, which included several Australian exUovernors and others prominently connected with tho colonies, and the Agents-General, Lord Jersey presided. Mr Deakin and Sir W. Lyne made speeches dealing with the questions of Australian trade and preference LONDON, Sunday. General Botha (Premier of the Transvaal) and Sir Wilfred Laurier (Premier ot Lanada), have arrived to attend the bonference. The "Times," in a special article indicating genera lines of approach towards Imperial unity, advocates the very cheapest ,f not free, press cabling iTjJXirl w « ,t K. tha colonies as the »«* essential of the pre-requisites to any S a „ n e C r osh0 sh^ th6direCti ° nof Imp6ria ' While the London Chamber of Commerce has decided to inform Sir H C Ifcnerman Premier, that the recent Son 7E f ge / y '• TOn »We to protection the free trade group insisted that that^ 6miel i, Sh( { Ujd . also be informed ouf of^?" ° nly mduded 1549 ™*«