COLONIAL CONFERENCE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8768, 21 March 1907, Page 2

COLONIAL CONFERENCE.

Press Association.—Copyright. London, March 20, The Duke of Devonshire, addressing the Unionist Free Trade Olub, said the Colonial Conference was safer in the hands of Liberals than of Unionists, as colonials could appreciate clearly the expressed policy, and there would be no chance of misunderstanding as there might have been if, after three years’ tariffite agitation, colonials found they had been summoned to England simply to negotiate on a basis of existing duties, in which case they ■would have thought they had been brought to England, on a tool’s errand In view of the grave Constitutional questions impendng, he deplored the increasing recklessness and anarchy in the Unionists’ ranks. The duty to unite was clear, considering the indirect attack on tho Legislative Union of Britain and Ireland, which was as dangerous as or more dangerous than a direct attack. Indians and the Colonies. In the House of Lords Lord Ampthill asked if the Imperial Conference would discuss the question of tho disabilities ;ofi British Indians and their future " treatment by the colonies. Lord Elgin said that while it was the duty “of Government to show that they were tho .national protectors, ' yet they were bound to consider tho self governing colonies, p„ud not to inflame tho present strong feeling. Nevertheless, ho hoped tho subject would bo discussed at any rate at a subordinate conference. Lord Lansdowue considered the question a most difficult one owing to two conflicting currents of opinion. Ho hoped caro would bo taken to secure proper treatment of Indian subjects, and to prevent them being humiliated or deprived of their rights. He added that for some reasons it was better that tho subject should not bo officially presented for the, consideration of the Conference.