To-day's Cables.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 16 April 1907, Page 3

To-day's Cables.

-OPENING OF THE IMPERIAL ■v.^ . ;•■_ ' CONFERENCE:-; ; '

: ' ? > (Received ApriTl6, 8.47 a.m.) '■'■':'■'■• . ".? LONDON, Monday; > , ■•■ _'. The Imperial ; Conference ; has opened. . • <-~3?he, King. sent 'a message welcoming tfe representatives, and he hoped the , would have good results in the interests of the Empire. -Lord El-" State for. -the"' i Cblgniea, vprcsided, and Sir H^C. Bin--v nefm»n,, Premier, welcomed >the ?repre- . 'tiaa!iaxi.vQa.~.~~ii(i;,-< .^-wvA ■'.■■ •-..•■.■.<■ ■:-•■;; --V important' matters involving differences of opinion would be approached withthe recognitionthatJ'the will ofjtheTpeo^ 1 pie in each. part of the Empire must be paramount. ; . The Conference ' would; : find that his colleagues -would' join/ in the freest discussion Vof the '■ important matter of trade, preference^.- and 'the - British- Government •; w6uld /'carefully consider any decision . the Conference might come to. He was delighted' with the assurance of Mr / LloyU' George"; President of the Board of , Trade- 'that the Navigation.' Conference "would have good; results. V=;. ' ; • / -^.- / : '■':■ • Mr Deakitt, ■ Commonwealth Premier, . „Baid_ he was sure/that Sir.-' H.C. Bannermah's - remarks 'wquloV he read "with interest in Australia. -All were anxious to cement the- ties"of:thssEmpire, and it would be most disappointing if undue secrecy were^obseryaj? .' ' Sir Joseph Mid'" (N;Z.)' j: said the -spirit-shown Jy'. Sir- Hi -C- Banherman was- exceedingly gratifying. The IJavi-. gation Conference ''had" 'demonstrated that discussion-had enabled apparently hopeless questions to be satisfactorily *■' settled. If'- colonies were exempted from "Home party conflicts, it would be possible, to evolve apo Key of continuity which would strengthen the Empire. . (Received April 16, 10.33 a.m.) .'•".• .-•■■■ LONDON, Monday. ' Lord Elgin, presiding at the Imperial Conference, said he ' hoped good work ' would be accomplished Dy the Confer-' 'ericev- ' ' : >•' ' . : Sir H. C. Bannerman declared . that the British Government were as anxious to promote the well-being of the colonies as the colonies themselves., Britain: 'claimed freedom to 3o ..what she considered best in the interests of her own ' people, and to-. concede'siifiilar "freedom" to the colonies..-' The Govern- '}''■' ment cduld not-.gd behind the declared interests of this country and Parliament, no niore conld. the colonial Premiers go behind the instructions and wishes of their "communities and Parliaments. Referring to defence, Sir H. > Bannerman saiff: "'■ "We do not get you as claimants -for- moneyj althongh we cordially recognise the spirit in which, your cbntribntions have been madein the past." He- continued that" -there was room for agreement on and advance in "many subjects. *He considered that the meeting, of the Premiers was most ' valuable^ and he acknowledged- Sir Joseph Ward's arid Sir Wm. Lyne s valuable work at," the '■ Navigation Con- ' fere^ce. He deeply regretted Mr Chamberlain's illness:^ ■' (Received 10.10 a.mj MELBOimNE, Tuesday. Sir John Forrest, Federal Treasurer, has cabled to Mr Deakin, and h^ other ' colleagues expressing the .fervent hope that the Imperial Conference will as- .£=.* in proinoUne- «n- Jnorease of ' trade , and coinnierce among; ,jßntis ? people, ■ the maintenance of British; supremacyoa 'the sea, and. - a closer union of the. bonds of loyalty an» -affection of , the " British race throughout the world.- -.