THE IMPERIAL WAR CONFERENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3277, 3 January 1917, Page 36

THE IMPERIAL WAR CONFERENCE.

A MOMENTOUS GATHERING. (By Cable.) The Prime Ministers of all the dominions have been invited to a conference, which will be a series of War Council meetings, discussing war organisation and post-war problems. The visiting Prime Ministers will probably be also consulted regarding peaceconditions. The Secretary of iState for the Colonics (Mr W. Long) telegraphed to the dominions overseas through His Excellency Lord Liverpool as follows:—"His Majesty's Government does not contemplate a session of tho ordinary Imperial Conference, bat a special War Conference of the Empire. I therefore invite your Prime Minister to attend a series of special continuous meetings of the War Cabinet to consider urgent questions—the prosecution of the war and the possible conditions on which, in agreement with our Allies, we could assent to peace, and tho problems arising therefrom. For the purpose of these meetings your Prime Minister will be a member of the War Cabinet. In view of tho urgency and importance of tho subjects for discussion, it is hoped that your Prime Minister will attend not later than tho end of February, and, if unable to attend, that he will appoint a substitute." The Secretary of State for India (Mr A. Chamberlain) telegraphed to the Viceroy in similar terms, stating that he (Mr Chamberlain) would represent India, and desiring tho attendance of two gentlemen to be specially selected. Considerable satisfaction is expressed in political clubs at the announcement that tho Imperial Conference is really a special War Council, bringing the whole Empire into clciser touch with the. facts of the conflict and conditions which must be achieved before peace is brought about. It is ■understood that Mr Bonar Law is responsible for the immediate summoning of the conference, and that he pressed the proposals strongly upon Mr Asquith. The Daily Chronicle, commenting upon the subject, remarks that the dominions have richly merited this recognition. The Manchester Guardian regards tho rapidity of decision and promptness to act as supremo virtues that promise well for tho future. India's inclusion in the conference has attracted special attention. It is regarded as a well-merited recogmtion of India's loyalty and services. It is recalled in somo quarters that the dominion press favourably reviewed Lord Hardingc's (ex-Viceroy) claim in 1915 that India should be given a fuller status at Imperial Conferences. The Daily Telegraph regards the conferonce as tho Empire's reply to prematura peace talk. Enthusiastic approval is given in Canada to Mr Lloyd George's proposal to hold- an Imperial War Conference. Tho press hails Mr Lloyd George as a statesman with tho widest Imperial outlook, and declares that tho Empire anxiously awaits euch a conference at tho present crisis. Mr Massey, Prime Minister of Now Zealand, considers that tho magnificent loyalty of India and the splendid valour of her sons have given her tho right to share in the deliberations on the war and its prosecution. Mr Massey, in tho course of an interview, said: " The decision to call the ovovrepresentatives to a War Cabinet marks a distinct advance in giving the dominions a share in the management of purely Imperial matters. I believe it will give satisfaction throughout the dominions, and be good for tho Empire as a. whole. It really means that for the first time we shall havo an Empire Cabinet, which will also havo the opportunity of dealing with matters that ordinarily come before an Imperial Conference." Sir Joseph Ward said: "The invitation is broad enough, and may easilv cover a wider range than it seems to indicate. We are now about to play a new game in Empire diplomacy, and it would bo wise to play it behind closed doors." Mr Massey says the Empire War Council is not tho outcome of peace talk. It undoubtedly would have been constituted if tho Gormnn and President Wilson's Notes had not been issued, because Mr Lloyd Goorpo's Government correctly interpreted the feeling of the dominions that they wore entitled to direct representation. Also, there is a growing opinion in the British Parliament and amongst citizens that tho assistance of the dominion leaders will bo valuable.

In 111' 1 course of a speech, Sir .Toscph 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 permanent Empire Council. Mr Hughes, tho Commonwealth Prime Minister, preserves strict silence ns to his intentions- regarding the invitation to attend an Imperial Conference. The Senate eleo-

tionfi, duo 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. It is expected that Mr Hughes will disclose his intentions after the Liberal party lias discussed the position. Indications point to the fusion of tho Hughes and Liberal parties, and tho inclusion of a number of Liberals in the Ministry.