EMPIRE COUNCIL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7450, 26 May 1911, Page 1

EMPIRE COUNCIL

Si K ,r. WARD’S MOTION SETTLING QUESTIONS OF PEACE OK WAP. INTERNATIONAL TREATIES By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. LONDON, May 2-1. In moving at the Imperial Conference yesterday \ That the Umpire has noiy reached a svilue ot Imperial development which ruulers it expedient that-there should. I-., an Imnerail Council of Slate., with, representatives from all the constituent parts of the Kmpirc. whether scli'■overning or not, in theory apd in fact advisory to the Imperial Government, <>n ali "quest ions affecting tho\interests ot JiU Majesty's Dominions oversea. Sir Joseph Ward, Prime Minister of Kuiv Zealand, said there was necessity for an Imperial Council on the grounds of Imperial unity, organised Imperial defence, and crinal distribution of. the burdens of defence. There should he representation of the self-governing dominions in the Imperial Parliament for determining questions of peace orj war, questions of foreign policy, audj international treaties affecting the Empire. EXPANSION AND FEDERATION. i The remarkable growth of the over. r,eas dominions, argued Sir Joseph' Ward, required the gravest consideration of statesmen in order to prevent difficulties which might in future bo almost impossible of settlement, but which might bo dealt with while the dominions’ populations were limited Ho believed that in twenty-five years the combined population of the overseas dominions would exceed that of the United Kingdom. Those controlling the Empire’s destinies would have io consider the matter of the expansion of its units. All were ’deeply concerned in the maintenance of some loose .form of federation. The-, component parts of the Empire were now kept together by sentiment. The experience of the United States showed what tremendous changes might take place with regard to ' nationality, and, ho believed they would have to face such a prob-, lent, owing to the attractiveness of the overseas dominions for settlement to people of different languages from our own. Unless the question of emigration and immigration bo treated Imperially, and anxious care be taken to keep our own people within the Empire, our future strength may ho dissipated, and the best of our population bo spread amongst alien countries.” CONFERENCE ADJOURNS. The Conference has adjourned until Thursday.