IMPERIAL WAR CONFERENCE

Southland Times, Issue 17934, 27 January 1917, Page 5

IMPERIAL WAR CONFERENCE

ARRANGEMENTS NOW COMPLETE. A MATTER OF URGENCY. (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, January 25. Received January 26. 7.15 p.m. Arrangements arc being completed for the Empire War Conference, which it is expected, will be held in February, unless a delegate is coming from Australia. The Rt. Hon. R. L. Borden’s acceptance brings Canada into line with South Africa, India, New Zealand and New Foundland. The Colonial Office has telegraphed to all the dominions asking definitely the earliest possible date of arrival of their representatives. This indicates that Mr Lloyd George is treating the matter as being urgent. OVERSEAS’ NATIONS' SHARE. STAKED LITERALLY EVERYTHING. BUILDING A NEW EARTH. MR LLOYD GEORGE’S PRONOUNCEMENT. LONDON, January 23. Received January 26, 5.5 p.m. Mr Lloyd George, in the course of an interview on tbe Imperial War Council, by a correspondent of the United Cable Service, said that it seemed to them to be an impossible and undemocratic proposition to think that the overseas nations would raise and place in the field armies containing an enormous proportion of their best manhood, and not want to have a real say in determining what use they are to be put to. For that reason one of the first acts of the new Government had been to ask the oversea Premiers to attend, not a formal Imperial Conference, but to sit as an executive Cabinet. The Empire conference should sit now or as soon as possible. The war was not yet won, and we wanted to concert our efforts so as to be able to exert our maximum strength at the critical moment. Further, we are most anxious that during the last most trying phase of the war the Empire may present, and will, an absolutely united front. The British Government, in prosecuting the war to a finish, is negotiating a peace, and wants to know that it will be carrying out a policy agreed upon by representatives of the Empire sitting as a Plenary Council. Mr Lloyd George added; “We stand on tiie verge of the greatest liberation the world has seen since the French Revolution. Do you mean to tell me, lie asked, that people who have stood together, and who have staked literally everything to secure that liberation, are not going to find some way of perpetuating that unity afterwards on an equal basis. I am certain that the peoples of the Empire will find a unity in the war such as they have never wished for before. 1 am certain that the nations which have borne the heat and burden of the day in overthrowing militarism will take a leading share in building that new earth, whicli was made possible by their sacrifice.