Britain and the Colonies

Southland Times, Issue 10966, 18 February 1907, Page 3

Britain and the Colonies

. NEWFOUNDLAND FISHERIES. Per United Press Association. By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, Feb. 15. The Newfoundland Assembly, by 23 to 3, adopted an address to Lord Elgin,’ disapproving of the modus Vivendi. ,(This is the logical outcome of the attitude .taken up. toy the Newfoundland Government when, the correspondence relating to tie fisheries was published in a recent parliamentary paper. They strongly opposed any provisional treaty with the United States and plainly told Lord Elgin as much. The Colonial Secretary, however, twitted the Newfoundland Government with having, by its policy, created an awkward situation. He averred that the object of the modus vivendi was rather to make clear the present position, than to create any new arrangements. Particularly Newfoundland was incensed at the fact that the new proposals ignored the Foreign Fishing Vessels Act of last year, and on that ground they refused to become parties to the modus vivendi. They held their ground despite palliative proposals. and the British Government concluded arrangements with the United States, without further consulting Newfoundland.) NAVAL CONTRIBUTIONS. BALFOUR AND CHURCHILL AT ONE. VOLUNTARY HELP THE BEST. LONDON, Feb. 16. Received 17th, 4.47 p.m. Mr Harold Cox, Liberal member for Preston, moved “ That it is desirable that the Colonial Conference should discuss the importance of the colonies moco fully participating in the cost of defending the Empire.” Mr Balfour : ”We ought not to treat the matter in a bargaining spirit.” He did not believe that the naval estimates would bo diminished a farthing if England lost the selfgoverning colonies. While the colonies, through their Imperial connection, acquired great strength and security, yet the connection also involved some dangers, owing to the Empire touching world politics on many points not directly concerning the colonies. It was impossible to seriously ask the colonies to vote money which somebody else would spend. A more possible proposal j would be to arrange a treaty under which the colonies should transfer their troops and ships to Imperial control in the. event of Imperial complications, though he earnestly deprecated even pressing that. While not abandoning hope of closer political relations between the Motherland and the colonies, the ideal was not now in sight. Loose organisation of the Empire had advantages and disadvantages ; but he was sure that it was better to rely on voluntary assistance than to attempt to give it a rigid, involuntary character. “We shall get more out of colonial, loyal, voluntary, patriotic enthusiasm than out of any hard and fast organisation.” (Cheers). Mr Winston Churchill. Colonial Un-der-Secretary, described Mr Balfour’s speech as inspired by profound political wisdom. Though the services that the Motherland and the colonies mutually rendered were very great. It would be wrong to draw invidious comparisons respecting the contributions and benefits reciprocally interchanged. ” The Empire.” ho said, ‘‘ is not a business proposition ; but is based on the principle of a family, not a syndicate. The Motherland declines to haggle and bargain with her children respecting' the precise amount of military contributions or commercial treaties. Without the coW onies wp should be still compelled to maintain our fleet.” While he deprecated any hard commercial bargain, he held that it was the colonies’ duty to contribute, as occasion arose, to our common defensive needs. ” We make no demand whatever,” he went on. ” They give voluntarily ; wo accept gladly. We are content to await the solid, broadening harvest of future years.” The amendment was withdrawn.

MR BALFOUR SEES SIGNS. THE LORDS APPROVE. LONDON, Feb. 16. Received 17th. 5.1-1 p.m. Mr Balfour, addressing the National Union Co-operative iConstitutional Association, said he saw unmistakeable signs of a coalescence of Unionist views in the direction of a safe, sound, sober, policy of fiscal reform, based on grounds of the absolute necessity o? enlarging the basis of taxation, the vital need of safeguarding the great productive industries against unfair competition, the need of a wider foreign market, the need of securing the great colonial market of the future. Mr Balfour declared that the Government had no constructive policy and therefore threatened the Lords. But the Government was not possessed of a moral position that would enable them to revolutionise our historic constitution. The press generally applaud Mr Balfour’s and Mr Churchill’s policy of Imperial defence. TRANSVAAL RACE TROUBLES. LONDON. Feb. 16. Received 17th, 5.29 p.m. Lord Elgin, Colonial Secretary, in harmony with a deputation of British Indians from the Transvaal that waited upon him, has disallowed the Transvaal Legislature’s Asiatic LawAmendment ordnance for the registration of all Asiatics and the expulsion of those who are unable to prove that they are lawfully resident in the colony. Lord Selborno, one time Colonial Under-Secretary, favoured the ordinance. Lord Elgin, while sanctioning the Vrededorp ordinance, disagreed with IHe restriction preventing Indians from holding land. The Westminster Gazette Bays that Lord Elgin’s decision regarding registration will tend to educate the Transvaal to a fuller sense of its part in the great Empire of many raccs.