IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2523, 23 July 1902, Page 27

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

j THE AUSTRALIAN SQUADRON. j THE PACIFIC CABLE. l I LONDON, July 15. I The next sitting of the Imperial Conference will be on Friday. It is expected Mr Chamberlain will preside. Mr Gerald Balfour will attend. Sir Gordon Sprigg has sailed on his return to Capetown. Mr Fuller, the Agent-general, I will represent him. It is understood the Admiralty will I submit to the conference a modified naval scheme imposing less responsibility on Australasia. An amicable compromise is probable. t July 16. The Premiers are consulting their Cabinets relative to the maximum Australian contribution to the auxiliary squadron. The Admiralty's proposal is considered excessive. Sir E. Barton states that preferential trade was only incidentally mentioned at the Premier's Conference. No regular discussion had yet occurred. He expects four more sittings to conclude their deliberations. The results would be more considerable if expectations weyre not placed too high. Sir E. Barton thinks Mr Chamberlain is justly proud of the high position to which he has raised his present office, and would be surprised if he consented to exchange it for the Chancellorship of the Exchequer or any other secretaryship. Mr Seddon conferred with the Austrian Ambassador, who complained that Au«trians were treated differently in New Zealand to other aliens. Mr Seddon satisfied him that no di^tinctiou was made. The Premiers conferred with Mr Spencer "Walpole relative to a British-Aus-tralian cable to Honolulu and Fanning Island, and are hopeful something will result. j July 17. 1 With a view to lightening the work of the Imperial Conference, the Premiers hold special separate interviews with Lord Selborne and the Admiralty authorities. A similar plan is likely to be followed in reference to other questions, the Home Government thus ascertaining the views of each colony. 1 Sir E. Barton, speakiug at fhe Canada Club dinner, said the conference was c owing the mustard seed destined to produce great things, and make the ■ unity oi the Empire a reality. July 19. Mr Chamberlain presided at the Conftreuce of Premier 1 -. Lord Onflow (Parliamentary Secretary to the Colonial Office), Sir M. F. Ommanney (Permanent Under-secretary to the Colonial Office), Mr Gerald Balfour (President of the Board of Trade), the Earl of Dudley (Parliamentary Under-secretary of the Board of Trade), Sir Francis J. S. Hopgood (Permanent Secretary of the Board of Trade), Mr Alfred Biiteman, and Sir Kobert^Giffen attended. Commercial trade relations, especially the fiscal question and the prospects of pieferenti.il tariffs between the Motherland and the colonies and between the colonies- themselves, were di<-cu«sed. The debate occupied the whole sitting. | Mr Seddon moved his preferential trade resolution. Sir E. Barton submitted a rc=olution, in general terras, that it is desirable to establish closer trade relations between the colonies and the Motherland, and indicated sympathy for preferential relations, without pledging Australia to give such a concession in the immediate future. He implied that such an arrangement must be left to the initiative of each Government and Legislature, which must work out its own destiny. The di'-cus^ion proceeded amicably. Mr Chamberlain modified his previous attitude, and. in a non-committal state-

1 nient, said the Government recognised * the difficulties, and desired to proceed cautiously. He also saw it was impossible for on© Government to bind its successors with regard to a fiscal policy. His remarks suggested a. willingness, to in eel colonial concessions by liberal sub- , sidies and bounties for obiects of comj lnon interest. The formation of definite j proposals on the question will be reserved. The conference adjourned until Tuesday. Sir E. Barton is gratified that his attitude at the conference meets with the approval of Australia. He says of the proceedings that momentous questions were discussed, and that the results achieved will not be opposed to public opinion. There was 1 no reason to fear that the Commonwealth vould be bound to adopt courses out of harmony with public opinion, or without Parliament being consulted. Such action would be utterly at variance with his view^.