IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2524, 30 July 1902, Page 27

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

COMMERCIAL RELATIONS OF THE EMPIRE.

views of the colonies

MR SEDDON'S PROPOSED

RESERVE.

DISAPPROVAL OF CANADA AND AUSTRALIA.

LONDON, July 23

The Imperial Conference resumed sitting. Mr Chamberlain, Lord Ons-low, Sir 31. F. Ommanney, Mr Gerald Balfour, Earl of Dudley, Messrs Hopwood, Llewellyn, Smith, Patterson, and Fielding, the Canadian Ministers, and Mr Solderness (Secretary of Commerce at the Indian Office), aiid Sir Robert Giffen were present. Various phases of commercial relations were considered, but no decision arrived at. Sub-committees were appointed to investigate, in cooperation with the Board of Trade, preferential trade eonee«-ioiis' and their effect on Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. Subsidies were discussed from the double standpoint of economical freight and as a means of combe ting the policy of foreign Governments in subsidising their \psv ) e~l,>, The subject was deferred. The conference resumes on Friday, whey it discusses Imperial defence. Sir John Forrest, Sir E. Barton, and Mr Seddon further discuss with Loi-d Selborue on Thursday the Admiralty's modified scheme.

Sir W. Laurier and the Canadian State Premiers- conferred with Mr Gerald Balfour relative to an Imperial subsidy for a tast Atlantic service.

Sir A. Hime was the guest of the Carpenters' Company. In the course of a speech he said he believed good would eventually result from the Imperial Conference. The colonies were able to extend preferential treatment to the Motherland. He trusted the conference would become triennial.

July 25.

The Imperial Conference will probably close next week. There is no probability of any attempt being made to alter the political relations of the colonies to the Empire, as this is considered unnecessary and inopportune. It is probable a non-committal resolution will be adopted favouring a general concession of preferential treatment to British goods- to such an extent and way as the individual colonial Parliaments determine. No one suggested that Britain should alter the existing fiscal system.

It is believed Australasia is not unwilling to contribute about £220,000 towards a stronger modern auxiliary squadron, without undertaking additional direct military responsibilities though improved Federal land defence". A triennial Imperial Conference is favoured, provided the parliamentary situations will oermit.

Mr Chamberlain's tactful guidance of the conference is much admired.

Sir E Barton's position is that while any arrangement respecting preferential treatment remains dependent_^on the decision of half a dozen autonomous colonies the essence of such an arrangement is that each party should determine the nature and extent of its preferential treatment. Mr Chamberlain hinted, and the Premiers concurred, that Britain was able to reciprocate by means of increased mail and cable subsidies, increasrd facilities for the shipping industry, including si remission of harbour ues, wider facilities for docking, repairing, coaling, and in other ways, without placing direct disabilities upon foreign trade ; such increased trading facilities to be applicable as- between groups of colonies as well as the colonies <md the Morherlaiitl.

There is an impression that Canada iwilling to extend more advantages m the way of preferential relations in return for the liberal mail subsidies to the Atlantic and Pacific steamers.

July 26

The Imperial Conference resumed today. Mr Chamberlain, Lord Selborne, Mr Brodrick, Major-general Sir W. (J. Nicholson (Director-general of the Military Intelligence Department), Lord Onslow, Sir M. F. Ommanney, and Sir John Anderson were prevent, in addition to the colonial representatives.

The Right Hon. Mr Seddon's proposal that each colony establish militia reserves selected from the local forces was discussed throughout the sitting in relation to the general military defence of Empire. No resolution was adopted.

Mr Hrodnck n*-ke(l the delegates to con-uler certain proposals in regard to the military defence of the Empire. The delegates will probably enter further into the subject, separately explaining the particular requirements of the respective colonies.

The uext "-itting will be held on Wednesday to di^cu'-s the political relations of the colonies and the Motherland and the holding of periodical conferences and other subject 15 . Mr Brodrick's proposals were that colonies possessing autonomous government should maintain an Imperial militia reserve, but the strength was not stated, largely consisting of mounted men, available for service abroad in a time of eniu&em^ uiid.er Wai" Office con-

irol. Ke strongly pressed the necessity; of the Wai Office knowing exactly thV. number and type of troops in the colo* nies it would be able to rely upon in time of war. He was disappointed that Mr Seddon's co-operation alone was available.

Sir E. Barton and Sir W. Laurier strongly indicated that they wei'e not prepared to invite their respective Parliaments to sanction military espendi- . ture except for local defence, though willing to reorganise the forces so as to produce uniformity of training according to the British aimy ideals, adopt the Imperial standard of arms and ammuni< tion, and establish in each autonomom centre in Australia and Canada an ani«munition factory. They did not ask Imperial assistance for land defence, bnfc were not prepared to submit to any compulsion to assist in Imperial defence. They were ready voluntarily to aid in war time more liberally than in the past. " They appealed to the war authorities to trust the colonies. They would thus obtain better results.

Sonth Africa practically concurs 1 in the - Australian and Canadian viewc. • ■

The colonial opposition to llr Bredrick's proposals is therefore considered deci-ive.