IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 80, 24 May 1911, Page 7

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

THE DOMINION AXD THE MOTHERLAND. ONE PEOPLE. ONE VOICE. AN APPEAL FOR CHOOSER RELATIONSHIP. London, Mdy 21). The Times states that the imperial ‘Conference of 1000 established an equal national status for live constituent parts of the Empire, and declared itself a Conference, of Governments. With Governments as, such it reassembles in 1911. The question of national Status being settled, the question of national responsibility takes its place. “Shall those Governments,” asks the Times, “have five foreign policies or shall they be jointly responsible for one policy? There can bo ho doubt about tbe answer they give. Sentiment indicates even more clearly than interest, for come what may, the peoples of tbs Empire are determined to be one, but sentiment will not solve how in practice a single policy is to he maintained. That pressing problem this Conference must face. The need can only he met by closer touch between the five Cabinets during all the months of every year. The Conference may lie' able to agree on an immediate step towards that end, but will have done much if they only demonstrate the urgency of the steps. Foreign relations and defence will ha for the first time the main subject for discussion.”

A GARDEN PARTY. , i i- - . . . ‘ London, May 23. Two thousand invitations have been issued in connection with to-day’s garden party at Downing-street. A BRILLIANT FUNCTION. London, May 23. At the Foreign-Office reception there were 30,000 present. It was the largest and most brilliant function of recent years.. Every Privy Councillor, many high officials and colonial residents had been invited. Lord Beauchamp, as the official host, on behalf of the Government, entertained the committee. The entrance to the. hall and the- staircase 4 were' converted into a fairyland of flowers, national colors predominating. THE FIRST DEVELOPMENT. ' London, May 23. The Daily Chronicle, anticipates that the first development of the Conference will he the recognition of the national status of the dominions by separation from the rest of the colonies. The programme shows how large is the sphere of operations. The first stop of the Conference will he the development of the Secretariat idea. FURTHER PRESS VIEWS. London, May 23. The Express slates that once every four years the Prime Ministers hf the dominions spend a month in England. “We show our sense of the privilege by getting to know what they have to say by making it,impossible to hear their voices.” The Morning Leader hopes that without impairing the efficiency of the Conference a satisfactory method will bo found of gratifying the very natural public desire to hear what such welcome visitors as Sir ■■Wilfrid Lnurier, General Botha and Mr. Fisher have to say.