THE DOMINIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16889, 29 December 1916, Page 5

THE DOMINIONS

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. MANCHESTER GUARDIAN IMPRESSED. THE GOVERNMENT CONGRATULATED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, December 27. (Received Dec. 28, at 8.50 p.m.) Tius Manchester Guardian says : " What impresses one most in the invitation to the dominion Premiers is the energy and promptitude displayed. A month since a small War Cabinet was initiated. Only a week since Mr Lloyd Georgo made his first speech as Premier; but already an invitation has gone out, and it is hoped that the first meetings will be held by the end of February, necessitating distant Premiers packing up their boxes immediately. This rapidity of decision and promptness to act are supreme virtues, and augur well for tile future. Already t! i decision to hold an Imperial Conference has begun to sprout under the influence of current events. The Government departments are no longer forts, passively resisting the influence of new ideas." The Manchester Guardian concludes with a hope that the conference will discuss the Irish question, with a view to its settlement. MR HUGHES'S INTENTIONS. SPECULATIONS IN AUSTRALIA. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association MELBOURNE, December 28. (Received Dec. 28, at 10 p.m.) Mr Hughes preserves strict silence as to his intentions regarding the invitation to attend an Imperial Conference. The Senate elections, due in May, have been postponed for several months, and it is understood that Mr Hughes will be free to leave by the middle of January. CANADL\N APPROVAL. OTTAWA, December 27. Enthusiastic approval is given to Mr Lloyd George's proposal to hold an Imperial War Conference. The press hails Mr Llovd George as a statesman with the widest Imperial outlook, and declares that the Empire anxiously awaits such a conference at the present crisis. MR BON AO, LAW RESPONSIBLE. POLITICAL CLUBS PLEASED. LONDON, December 28. (Received Dec. 28, at 11.15 p.m.) Considerable satisfaction is expressed in political clubs at tho announcement that the Imperial Conference is really a special War Council, bringing tho whole Empire into closer touch with the facts of the conflict and conditions which must bo achieved before peace is brought about. It is understood that Mr Jlonar Law is responsible for the immediate summoning of the confeTence, and that he pressed the proposals strongly upon Mr Asquith.

PRESS APrROVAL. THE DOMINIONS' SACRIFICES. LONDON. December 28. (Rcccivcd Dec. 28, at 11.10 p.m.) The Daily Chronicle, commenting \ipon the Imperial Conference, remarks that the dominions have richly merited this recognition. There is something sublime in the sheer nobility of their freewill war offerings. but under the existing system the dominions might bo dragged by inept British staicsmenship into a war with which fchey were not concerned. Our political machinery must be adapted to give them a voice in shaping the Imperial policy. The newspapers express a hope that a settlement of the Irish difficulty will be a by-product of an cpoch-making conference. SIR JOSEPH WARD'S VIEWS. LONDON, December 28. (Received Dec. 28, at 11.40 p.m.) In the cour?e of a speech, Sir Joseph Ward stated that he believed Mr Lloyd George was inclined to go much_ further than "Mr Asquith in Imperial affairs, particularly with regard to Imperial preference. Let him make the forthcoming conference a starting point for a peimanent "Empire Council. [The first portion of this message has been delayed in transmission, so that there is no indication as to the occasion of Sir Joseph's remarks.]

NEW ZEALAND'S FIGHTERS. GENERAL D'AMADE'S PRAISE. LONDON, December 28. (Received Dec. 20, at 11.40 p.m.) General D'Amade (French) has sent a message to Sir Joseph Ward containing the following:—" I wish to convey to your country my admiration and pride at having commanded men from New Zealand of such splendid fighting qualities and magnificent phy= sique. My greatest desire is to visit New Zealand and renew associations which can never be forgotten." Sir Joseph Ward replied, thanking the generai for his praise, which New Zealanders would appreciate. He hoped that General D'Amade would visit New Zealand. RECRUITING IN AUSTRAUA. A SERIOUS SHORTAGE. SYDNEY, December 28. Tho Recruiting Committee has .announced that the military authorities possess less than half tho reinforcements required for January.

INTERCESSION SERVICES. MELBOURNE, December 28. (Received Dec. 28, at 10 p.m.) Mr Hughes has informed the churches that his Majesty the King has approved of next Sunday instead of the following Sunday being observed by special intercession services. CANADA ANT) CONSCRIPTION. SIR 11. L. BORDEN'S VIEWS. OTTAWA, December 28. (Received Dec. 29, at 1.15 a.m.) Sir R. L. Borden, in a letter to the labour unions, says: "If conscription should prove the only effective method of preserving the existence of the State I would consider it necessary and would not hesitate to act accordingly." MORE GERMAN CLAIMS. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. LONDON, December 28. (Received Dec. 28, at 10 p.m.) A German communique claims the bringing clown of nine aeroplanes on the western theatre, and the breaking of several Russian positions on the Eastern Danube. Tho army forced its way to the enemy front after bitter fighting, compelling a retreat to prepared positions. The enemy since December 22 have lost 7000 prisoners.

ACTIVITY ON ITALIAN FRONT. Australian ami N.Z. ('.ibl* Association. RO-ME, December 28. (Received Dec. 29, at 0.15 a.m.) There is great artillery activity on the whole Italian front.