THE PRESS CONFERENCE.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 3344, 11 June 1909, Page 5

THE PRESS CONFERENCE.

REMARKABLE SPEECH BY MR BALFOUR. Electric Telegraph—Press Association. Copyright. London, June 9. The Right Hon. A. J. Balfour, Leader of the Opposition, presiding, delivered a remarkable speech at the sitting of the Press Conference. He endorsed the views expressed by Lord Rosebery at the opening banquet on Saturday, adding that, if Armageddon occurred, it would not be in remote parts of the Empire, but in European waters. Mr Haldane, Secretary for War, agreed with Mr Balfour and Lord Rosebery, and advocated his scheme for a General Staff in touch with the staffs ot the colonies.

Mr G. Fenwick (Dunedin), Mr E. S. Cunningham (editor of the Melbourne Argus), and Lord Roberts also spoke.

The Hon. T. Fink (Melbourne) proposed a resolution urging the advocacy of universal training. Mr Mark Cohen (editor of the Dunedin Star), in seconding the motion, urged that Lord Roberts should be sent as a missionary throughout the Empire. The Conference disapproved adopting any resolution, and the motion was therefore withdrawn.

FATE OF THE COLONIES. WHERE IT WILL BE DECIDED. London, June 10. Mr A. J. Balfour, speaking at the Press Conference, said that the fate

oi Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, and India would not lie decided in the Pacific or Indian Oceans, but in the Northern Hemisphere. Everybody who reads the signs of the times agrees with Lord Rosebery’s and Sir Edward Grey’s weightv words and recognise the impossibility of looking at the subject of Imperial defence without anxiety.

Mr Brierly (Montreal) said that if danger threatened the Empire, Canada was prepared to spend her last cent and give her last ui oiooc. to prevent the catastrophe. The results of the conference would not be found in the minute books, but in the increased interest in Imperial matters.

Mr R. B. Haldane said that be agreed with every word Mr Balfour had spoken.

Mr Fenwick (Otago, New Zealand) said that the speeches of the Ministers and ex-Ministers this week bad made the conference historic. Editors had received much inspiration on many points. The spontaneous offer of New Zealand’s Dreadnought must not be measured by its cost. It was a demonstration of a patriotic feeling

which would help forward all the Empire. He disclaimed disapproving of the action of Canada and Australia, and their decision to provide their own defence, but all must recognise how inadequate local provisions must be. The safety of the oversea dominions lay in the maintenance of a great Imperial Navy. Therefore he urged the Press to support it. Mr Cunningham (Melbourne) said that lie thought Australia bad been treated indulgently in the past, and tliat was the secret of the wave of enthusiasm which resulted in the recent offers of New Zealand and the Commonwealth. He was delighted to think that the new Government of the latter had adopted the people’s wishes. Australia would not lie ready to adopt universal training. It involved many problems, and he doubted the wisdom of attempting to force it upon the people at the present stage. Lord Roberts said he believed that a new era had been commenced that might require the whole Empire to justify its existence. Nothing hut forethought and preparation would make us reliable for a great emergency.