IMPERIAL AFFAIRS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10404, 18 July 1912, Page 5

IMPERIAL AFFAIRS.

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. London, July 17. Mr Borden, Canadian Premier, was the principal gnest at the inaugural banquet of the Empire Parliamentary Association, Mr Asquith, in a letter apologising lor his absence, said tbs fact of so many overseas Parliamentarians forming snob an Association showed that the founders had performed valuable work. Mr Lyttelton, who presided, said that with many of those present, the supreme ideal for years had been an 'lmperial Navy, and along with it a voice and influence an the councils controlling the Empire’s foreign relations. - Mr Borden, in responding to the toast of "The Overseas Members,”, dwelt on anomalies of the Imperial system. The British Parliament was no longer Imperial in the highest sense. Its composition was determined mainly by domestic issues wherewith the Dominions had no concern, yet it controlled the Empire’s relations and destinies. This condition was little open to criticism so long as Britain's , sea suoremscy was unchallenged' or maintained by the British alone. Escapee the Dominions of the Empire were wards the time was at. hand when they would he called to take a reasonable and legitimate share in safegarding the Empire’s existence Needless to say, in time of peril every Dominion would respond not less "loyally ,cr earnestly than the Motherland. One realised, however, when the day of paril arrived the day of effective preparation raighs perhaps have passed. Those accepting a share of the responsibility for the Empire’s security must no longer be considered wards by self-con-stituted guardians Canadians wouldnever willingly accent such a condition The next tsu or twenty years should be critical —possibly decisive —in tlu Empire’s history. “God grant,” concluded Ms Borden, “that we may never have cause to regret ,an opportunity than neglected and dead.”