COLONIAL STATESMEN IN LONDON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 24 April 1907, Page 4

COLONIAL STATESMEN IN LONDON.

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. ATTITUDE OF THE PREMIERS. COMMENTS BY THE PRESS AND POLITICIANS. [United Pc Association.— Copy Elf.HT.] LONDON, Monday. The "Daily Mail" says that Lord Elgin's ruling at the first sitting of the Imperial Conference, that Ministers accompanying Premiers were expected to remain within call of tho Colonial Office, in case they were wanted for consultation, was a delicate request to withdraw. The phrase "within call" astounded Ministers, who indignantly asked why they were brought to England unless for the purpose of participating in the Conference. Sir W. Lyne propounded two alternatives, cither to be treated as members of the Conference, or to leave the country in 24 hours. The threat had its effect. The "Standard" expreses satisfaction at the progress made by the Conference, considering the British spirit of caution and compromise. A stroke of the pen abolished the conception of sister States as dependencies of the Motherland. Britain's Premier would in future be primus inter pares. The "Daily Express" declares that the week's work was excellent. The "Daily Graphic" hopes that an Under-Secretary will be appointed to superintend the vow division to deal with self-governing States. The "Times" declares that the rea son why the Conference did not go further in" independence and continuity war that the Premiers were not unanimous. Meanwhile, for common consultation so necesary to avoid mistakes in Imperial policy,'we must look to the ample use of subsidiary conferences. The "Tribune" predicts that the common business of the Empire will be notably facilitated by the Conference. The "Times" says that the decision of the Imperial Conference are as good as they go. They have provided some machinery, possibly of great practical value, for tho future, but it was idle to disguise that the Conference would not roalise the full measure of what had been hoped from the designation of an Imperial Conference witb the Prime Minister as the ex officio President. By the fullest recognition of an equal footing of the Imperial States yet given, went beyond the position Sir H. C. Bannerman took at the opening. He bad hoped that at future Conferences the Prime Minister would preside personally throughout. Nevertheless, the Secretariat seemed to have been restricted as far as possible to remaining essentially a section of the Colonial Office. This was hardly consistent with lhe earlier part of the resolution. If the self-gov-erning colonies wore placed tm an equality with the Home Government it was scarcely logical that an official staff dealing with their business should be subordinate to the Colonial Secretary, and actually within his ordinary department. Sooner or later the Secretariat would have to emerge. OTTAWA, Monday. The "Toronto Mail , the chief organ of the Conservatives, complains that Sir Wilfrid Laurier's attitude at the Imperial Conference is cold, indifferent, and unfair towards Canada. LONDON, Monday. Mr Deakin states that neither he noi any other Premier ever suggested the creation of an authoritative body with executive legislative jurisdiction. Lord Elgin's denunciation of an independent body which would interfere with autonomy was besido the question, since none ever hinted at such a proposal. All through, Mr Deakin, Sir Joseph Ward. Dr Jameson, and Mr Moore had simply been fighting for the independence of future Conferences in regard to the Co lonial Office, and, as far as possible, of the British public service altogether. Although they had not secured emancipation from the Colonial Office, that "would be won at the next Conference. Tbo morning pnpel's, commenting on Mr Deakin's references at the Pilgrims' Club banquet, to the position of the Pacific, urge the necessity cf Australia learning to face tho altered circumstances which the presence and activity of foreign nations had created. The "Telegraph" adds that when the Panama Canal is opened and the hustle for trade receives a powerful impetus derived from the influx of a huge volume of new shipping from the Pacific, Australia can hardly fail to have an influence on her neighbour more acutely than the present. Restrictionist and exclusionist tactics will be no longer available, and the Australians' period of isolation will be over. LONDON, Tuesday. The Duke and Duchess of Sutherland gave a dinner in honour of the colonial Premiers. They received a great reception. Ada Croßsley sang. The municipality of Antwerp hat invited the colonial Premiers t.o pay that town a visit at the close of the Imperial Conference. A deputation from the Australasian Merchants' Association waited on Sir W. Lyne and expre:6ed complete sympathy with preferential trade, including British produce brought in British ships from oversea Britain in preference to foreign produce. It was emphasised that there is a growing danger arising from the competition of foreign shipping engaged in the Australian trade, and the speakers instanced the German lines, and the White Star, which is owned by American financiers. It was stated that New Zealand's preference has already diverted much trade from Germany and America to the United Kingdom, ancl it was hoped that the Commonwealth's preference would yield even more farreaching results. J; Sir W. Lyne made a sympathetic re- ?/" MELBOURNE, Tuesday. •;J<Mr 0. H. Reid. Leader nf the Fedcral"Oposition, said he was glad Mr Deakl&'s proposal for au independent CcujSere'ilCO had been modified so as to leave Arrangements in connection with the Conference very much as they ;Wetev*-The importance and dignity of Jffl^niis-.Conferences would be augmented by the fact that the Bririis&]?rime Minister would be ex-officio 'JJ^io/MitJ Referring to Sir W. Lync r s St^ffiaevVMr Reid declared that whertevefe'tSir."r~. Wm. Lvne went there was '■s^y^y&.be.=SQmc china broken.