COLONIAL STATESMEN IN LONDON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 19 April 1907, Page 3

COLONIAL STATESMEN IN LONDON.

[United Vmcjs Association.— Copy EIGHT.] THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. TflE QUESTION OF PERMANENCE. - AN ATTACK ON ""DOWNINGSTREET." LONDON, Thursday. , ,4* .'he Imperial Conference Mr Dea- ; tan v(AMtralia), urged the ; establishment ■ Pt ; .* : advisory Imperial --- Council of tHe-rrime "Ministers of Bri- ; tain and -the autonomous colonies, with--r out; executive 'authority, assisted by a ."■' secretariatrW; bridge the intervals bei"-"■: tween' Jthe^ Conferences. He suggested ; : -that;.ihe; 4 Prim'e> Minister, not the Colo:<:hialsX)ffic<£t should be the medium '.-: ," througHl^'which . the autonomous colonies : : -shonld iwork in connection with matters ?^«*^»a*rlmperißl. and colonial interests. ;; : -: Si? Joseph Ward urged that British .- -and. colonial Prime Ministers, wftti the ;, -Secretary.: of .State for the Colonies,' : • should! be the members of the Council.' ?■ .He suggested that Crown colonies which .^were.. controlled under advice from the '- • wverninerit. shoulld continue to be call--ed ,' colonies," while the autonomous -:% should be termed "states" or £i = some other name distinguishing them >r iron*' Crown colonies. He urged that ;;■ the channel of communication with the Government should continue ;t4jnrotigh the. Governors. ■— «. g^f-Lbrd^gm, Secretary ; 9 f State for i.« the Colonies, urged that . the' ' Colonial ■; Office, had, done good work in the past, * a s?!i? a s prepared to work for. a policy v ;'.»«.■■. continuity.. The British GovernrVjinentJwere unable to: agree to the ci-ea- ; tioa^of . a separate body with power j>f ■. interference between the respective Goi vernments. , That; would J>e a dangerous course to pursue.'i; -■ " ' : Some. of the Premiers, interjected : "We do not suggest; anything of the load.", '•■■'.' ii^'^jJS.- ■/■'">■'■''"•■ ~i:'':J\' r - -Elgin sußSittKJ'»a longresoln-,- --' tion, which he Hoped w6uld secure ac>' -.cepwnce.'and settle /difficulties, and a i decision is expected-*to^niorrow. 'General Botha ..(Transvaal) implied that the present ;ma.chinety of the Con- " ference was not '"unsatisfactory. They r- might discuss improvements, and then ._• leave tie matter over for future .settle--^ment. It was best to build slowly. -. • All the colonial Premiers adopted Sir Laurier's suggestion that the -titles ."lmperial Conference," "Preferi'ence, and "Imperial Council," be re- ~ cognised. Sir Wilfrid said there must .unanimity respecting the alteration ►•"6f, : the -Conference's constitution, or no- ■' thing : 'could be done. He reserved his ;; decision;: though he implied that he ; v did. not_ favour the creation of a new r.Gonhcil as a permanent organisation. : He .thought that might develop tendencies which might not prompt a continuance* of the present happy relaJtions between the Home and colonial - Governments. The term "Downing Street" was no longer used in Canada as a term of execration. . -• ; 'Sir Wm. Lyne's attitude was reserved^ and apparently somewhat unsympathetic to the Council scheme. .; '::;>. The question, of defence was deferred till Saturday, when it is hoped that .Mr Haldane, Secretary of State for War, will be present. „ "■■■:'•