CLOSED-DOOR CONFERENCE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7847, 8 July 1911, Page 17

CLOSED-DOOR CONFERENCE

LANGUID INTEREST IN • PREMIERS’ DELIBERATIONS.

OVERSEA PROTESTS. FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTLONDON, May 26. Tho Imperial Conference meets —but it meets with closed doors. Tho decision was not unexpected, but it is none the less disappointing to many. There is something to be said on both sides, of course, but perhaps the strongest argument against the closed door policy is the fact that it prevents tiie Conference from having much educative influence upon public opinion. Imperial education, a knowledge of and an interest in tho peoples and the problems of tbo oversea Dominions, is a crying need in this old country. People iicro have such vague ideas about the groat 3 T oung nations that are growing rapidly to manhood under tho British flag in far distant climes. They require educating, and in closing the doors of the Dnperial Conference once more a splendid opportunity of arresting tho attention and awakening the interest of the British public has been missed. Without that feeling of personal interest it is idlo to expect a vigorous public opinion on tho great problem of strengthening tho ties of Empire. And without a strong body of public opinion behind them, the delegates of the British Cabinet at the Imperial Conference are not very likely to assent to any far-reaching proposals in regard to Imperial organisation. Thus the public indifference shown to a closeddoor Conference reacts upon the Conference itself, and weakens its effectiveness.

Sir Joseph Ward’s proposal to open tho Conference to tho press was not put to tho vote, tile delegates being overwhelmingly against it. In 1907 there was an actual majority of the Dominion representatives in favour of an open Conference, although it was not adopted because unanimity was required. At the present Conference, however, Sir Joseph Ward stood absolutely alone in his demand for publicity, and finally withdrew his motion. Tho “Pall Mall Gazette” blames the Homo Government for “bolting tlio doors” of the Conference, but it is evident that tho Dominion Premiers themselves approved of tho bolting, and assisted in the process. The “Pall Mall’s” further suggestion that the visiting delegates based their decision on a feeling of conrtesy for their hosts, and not upon their own desires, is a sample of the legendary accounts of the doings behind the closed doors that too often follow as an unfortunate and mischievous consequence of tho exclusion ot the press.

An interesting summary of overseas opinion on tho closing of the Conference doors was furnished this week by tho “Daily Chronicle,” which publishes a number of cable messages received from the editors of representative newspapers in tho Dominions. These messages show that the predominating public feeling is all in favour of an open Conference, except, of course, in regard to certain questions, such as Imperial defence, which require confidential treatment. The popular idea of tho Conference is that it should bo a sort of Imperial Parliament where Imperial questions can bo threshed out in tho open. Tiie closing of the doors is not a popular move, so far as the public can lie said to bo interested at all. Certainly tho public take but a faint interest in “edited” reports, prepared by tho official stenographers, judicially summarised by an official censor, and revised by the delegates before being sent to the press. Nobody knows what has been left out, and everybody wonders whether the parts loft out are not a good deal more interesting than those disclosed. Besides, the people of the different countries concerned are interested in different personalities and different subjects, and in an open conference the treatment of the proceedings by the press of tho Bmnire would vary accordingly. An official precis is an unsatisfactory sort of compromise in tho circumstances. “Tho influence of the Conference,” saye the “Daily Chronicle” in an editorial on the subject, “will be measured by the amount of confidence which it inspires, and by the impression which its doings will produce in the oversea Dominions. Without free and open discussion, and prompt and free uublicity, tho Conference lessens its influence and its utility.” However, th© decision to exclude the press was arrived at by the delegates themselves, so they at any rate cannot complain if their deliberations in the capita] of tho Empire excite but a languid interest.