THE MOTHERLAND'S MESSAGE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, 7 June 1909, Page 4

THE MOTHERLAND'S MESSAGE.

LONDON. Saturday. ; For enthusiasm and representative ( character, the banquet to the colonial I press delegates at which 600 were pre. ! sent, was one of the most remarkable j gatherings ever held in the Empire'^ ' capital, and one memorable for ova. j tions holding the hearers spellbound. i and transmitting a most striking and ' moving message from every corner of ' the Dominions. i Lord Burnham presided, and all the 'delegates and every leading journalist ;iu the country were present. Tho guests included Sir lan Hamilton. Lord Northclift'e Mr Max Pemberton Sir I Douglas Straight. Mr George Parkin. and Lord Faber. Conspicuous among :. the decorations were symbolic Imperial . designs, and tho musical programme ' consisted of the national songs of j Great and Greater Britain King Ed. j ward sent a warm response to a loyal j telegram, hoping that he would long be : spared to his people and the Empire. Lord Bosebcry made the speech of the evening. It ms generally pro. ■; nouncod to be nothing less than won. , tlerfnl. perhaps his most brilliant rf. fort. Tn welcoming the delegates he emphasised the cnormoiii importance of the gathering. Referring to 'iv conference oi the Prime Ministers of the Empire, he said it was no disparagement to those gatherings tn say that the present Imperial ono .was more important still. Ministries werr tiansicnt. while the power of a great newspaper of gaining and embodying opinion immeisiireably exceeded the statesman's. lie continued:—"The best and simplest words on the piesent occasion, the only two esentials perhaps the sweetest a mortal can hear are 'Welcome Home!' (Pro. longed cheers). This is the motto of • the occasion: 'Welcome to your {Home'" Renewed cheers). Pro. j ceeding in a vein of delicate pathos j with flashes of humour and satire, he pictured what the delegates had ar. > rived to see of Britain past and pre. sent, including the prodigious but al. . ways inadequate Armada protecting her shores. "All these, gentlemen."' he exclaimed, "are yours as much as our?!" lie then asked what they brought adding that that was ir.-irr important to the Motherland t'lian what they could take from her The '■ best they could bring was knowlodge about themselves, their communities.. the;r operations, and policies. Lat. terly. according to tlie favourite practice of retired politicians, he had dreamed a dream, in which he had pic. nrpil Parliament voting supplies for two years packing itself up in obsolete warships now so readily ."crapped, and 7oing for a trip to discover something about the Empire Meanwhile the Motherland was governed much as now by the heads of the permanent depart. mentl'. Some felt, perhaps, greater confidence in its welfare under such well ordered control. (Laughter ) The Peers would naturally pay their own expenses on the tour. The. Com. nions would vote taxes, and the Lords would pay them. He next dwelt upon the Tsmrprises iv the countries visited under his imaginary tour; the disco, very in democratic Canada of a Pre. mier holding his own against the buf. Fes of innumerable elections., and also that wealth was not a crime; next New Zealand; carrying out in tptal absence of tradition or complexity po. licies we were endeavouring to con. struct. He was astonished at the virility of Australia sustaining «>ven legislatures Referring to South Africa as the greatest modern success in Empire building, ho would avoid Uganda, lest he disturb the privacy of tribute to Mr Ilenniker Heaton's ac. tivity. Lord Hosebery altering hisr mood, described with extraordinary impressiveness the state of Europe; the surface wasr calm notwithstanding its overpowering preparations for war. ■ He added that Britain was determined to spend if need bo her last shilling ou ' Dreadnought* He was not sure that .even Ihat would be enough. Possibly ■ it would be their duty tn carry out the ' dominions' message The same per. , sonal duty and responsibility for de. ! fence rested on every citizen. He em. phasised the deplorable condition of Europe which was rattling into bar. ' t barianism. "Pressure in being pnt upon this little England to defend it. ' self its liberties and yours." he con.) eluded. "Take this message also back: The Old Country i?. right at heart. There is no failing or weak. _ ness in her She rejoices nt her re. I newing of youth in her giant do. b minions beyond the seas. For her own salvation she must look to herself and I that failing, she will look to you."