IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 84, 29 May 1911, Page 7

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

CABLE NEWS

By Electric Telegraph - Copyright United I’rcss Association.

COLOiNIAL Ui-J iCL lxkT ORAL AJFETLNO SIR JOSEPH WARD'S POINTS. London, Alay 20. Sir Joseph Ward accepted Air. Asquith's suggestion that Air. L. Harcouri -hould make a statement before proceeding with the resolution. Air. Harcourt said the Government -hoped to meet many of Sir Joseph Ward's points, hut. there were certain disadvantages in having separate secretaryships. It would be obviously difficult, to conduct the office with co equal permanent heads. Another difficulty was that only one person with a knowledge Of the dominions and Crown colonics could be a political head. It would not bo advantageous to have a secretary for the dominions wholly divorced from a knowledge of proceeding, in the Crown colonics and ' protectorates, and continuous particulars of the dominions. The Government would be prepared to establish aii advisory committee with purely advisory powers. The committee should not be lied too closely as regards personnel, .but frequent changes would militate against a continuity of knowledge. Sir Joseph Ward said the resolution Was intoned to secure organic machinery to discuss and advise on important questions, Without blaming the .Colonial Office he said Now Zealand frequently felt insufficiently well informed on matters of routine.’ He required time to consider the appointing of a High Commissioners’ Committee. Sir Wilfrid Laurier said he was satisfied with the present System. Canada, however, would not object if the others desired a change. He thought an advisory committee '.would he cumbrous and unsatisfactory, and might make recommendations suitable to one part and unsuitable to another.

Mr. Asquith said he thought only questions common to all parties should he dealt with. Air. Fisher said the services of High Commissioners were valuable in voicing the views on particular matters, but he had grave doubts of a standing committee taking a vote on matters of common concern. The proposal would extend the functions of commissioners in consultative authority. The question was not yet prominent, but the feeling existed in favor of dominion matters coming under the Foreign Office instead of under the Colonial Office. As nations they were desirous of entering into the spirit of the policy governing the Empire.' Ho suggested that Sir Wilfrid Laurier might give a lead by bringing forward a resolution vesting distinct authoritative powers to the High Commissioners to enter into negotiations with responsibility to their respective Governments. The Declaration of London was an instance where the Secretary of Foreign ..Affairs, had he communicated with the High Commissioners, could have learned the views of the dominions confidentially, and certain difficulties, might have been obviated. The other delegates expressed themselves as satisfied with the present system. Mr. Asquith said he did not. wish to press the establishing of a committee, unless it was generally approved. Referring to the. South African resolution, seeking to place colonial affairs under the Prime Minister, he said he was impressed with the fact that it would he impossible.for a Prime Minister to conscientiously discharge the duties. The Conference postponed further discussion pending the circulation of Air. Harcourt’s memorandum.

AN IMPORTANT DEPARTURE. MEETING OF DEFENCE COMMITTEE. COLONIAL PREMIERS ATTEND. SECRET PROCEEDINGS. I London, May 27. The Imperial Conference delegates attended a special meeting of the Committee of Imperial Defence. Mr. Asquith presided, and there were also present: Mi. L. Harcourt (Secretary for the Colonics), Mr. R. McKenna (First Lord of the Admiralty), Lord Haldane (Minister for War), Lord Crewe (Secretary for India), Lord Kitchener, Lord Esher, General Sir W. G. Nicholson, Admiral Sir A. K. Wilson, General Sir Tan Hamilton and others. Sir Edward Grey (Minister for Foreign Affairs) spoke of Britain’s foreign relations and the common interests of the Empire. The proceedings were conducted in secret and will be resumed on Monday or Tuesday. gsrw— — *• THE DOOR NOW OPENED.” THE PREMIERS DELIGHTED. London, May 27. The overseas delegates are delighted with the new departure of frankly admitting them to the confidence of the Imperial Government's inner circle. The newspapers declare that yesterday’s meeting was practically an Imperial Cabinet. The Council door was now opened and can never be shut. The Daily News says the Imperial Council as expounded by Sir Joseph Ward would develop a constitutional revolution of the first magnitude. The Standard declares that although neither in the dominions nor hero are the people prepared fdh Sir- Joseph Ward’s advanced 'is’icertaln that the task of putting the relations on .a sounder basis than lentimeht eahfiot U fht

AN AUSTRALIAN OPINION. Melbourne, Alay 27. Mr. Hughes, Acting-Premier, referring to Sir Joseph Ward’s Imperial Council scheme, said the proposal was ilmltlUous. He saw no objection to it, though the matter would largely depend <m convincing British authorities of the wisdom of the suggestions. Ai far as he could see, the whole subject was characterised by vagueness and uncertainty. He preferred not to express a definite opinion. LIBERALS’ GREATEST. ACHIEVE-' AIEtfT, THE COLONIES’ SELF-GOVERNMENT. SPEECH BY AIR. LLOYD-GEORGE. London, May 23. Five hundred guests attended the Eighty Club luncheon at the Hotel Cecil, including many leading colonial visitors. Air. Lloyd-George (Chancellor of the Exchequer), who presided, declared the conferring of self-government upon the. great communities within the Empire was the greatest of all tile Liberals’ achievements. He was proud to see them growing in strength, influence and psnver. The Liberal Party felt it could share in the triumphant vindication of democratic government which the dominions presented to the civilised world. There was no greater mistake of statesmanship than to imagine that a narrower patriotism excluded a wider one. As Liberals they studied and watched with' admiration and a spirit of emulation the boldness of several of the experiments of the sister State?. It was an education to see how their enterprise and courage inspired effort which was extricating humanity from the undergrowth wherein it was tangled. Doubtless the way would ho finally cut for humanity to march through to the light. Sir Joseph Ward emphasised the cordial affection for the Alotherland existing in New Zealand. He believed the British overseas Governments were, acting in such a way as nothing, done in future would lead to separation, and when The dominions numbered pcofT? of millions the people would’be attached to the Alother Country by ■ ties ■ which would ever be remembered. -. A,