IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Otago Witness, Issue 3509, 14 June 1921, Page 18

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

ADDRESS BY SIR JOHN FINDLAY. LONiJON, June 7. Sir John Findlay addressed the Colonial Institute on “The Future Government of the Empire.” He opposed Imperial federation, and advocated a conference of I’rime I i misters every two years, with intermediate Ministerial confer ences. Mr Massey tie dare 1 that an Imperial Government v,\ap impossible. The present system was the best. The only weakness was the impracticability of the dominions tenderin'; advice to the Crov n. Sir Robert Stout was of opinion that a federation would necessitate a written constitution, thereby reducing the dominions to tbe level of Stater, similar to those in the American Federation. CAN ADA’S IX T)I FF K I! 1 i X C E . LONDON, June 3. Referring to the reported proposal by the Prime Mini ter of Canada (Mr Meighen) to limit the Imperial Conference to foreign relations, the Japanese Tieatv. and external affairs affecting tbe dominions, and tile preparation of an agenda for the next conference, but excluding defence, Mi Mas 'ey .stated that the conference must settle its programme and not individual dominions. However indifferent Canada might be to defence, it was a matter of the supremos* importance to Australia and New Zealand. MR MEIGHEN S POLICY. OTTAWA, June 9. Mr Meighen has departed for the Imjierial Conference. He will support a renewal of the Anglo Japanese Alliance it it is shown to be in the best interests of

Great Britain, if it is not purely of a military nature, and if it does not involve complications with America. He will oppose any step towards an Imperial organisation involving centralisation or the creation of any superior power over the dominion parliaments. He will suggest that a consultative constitutional conference be held at Ottawa, including the leaders of all parties to decide naval and military questions which could not be usefully discussed until the strategic situation is clearer and expert opinion has reached a definite stage. EXPLANATION OF TERMS. LONT) ON, June 11. The conference secretariat explains that the terms Imperial Conference and Imperial Cabinet are not used officially. The conference will determine its own designation ; meanwhile the officials arc using the term “ Conference of Prime Minister.;.”