OVERSEAS PREMIERS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 85, 30 May 1911, Page 8

OVERSEAS PREMIERS.

London, May 20. The Premiers and other Australian and. Mew Zealand visitors, High Commissioners and Agents-Gcncral, attended Air. L. Harcourt’s' King’s Birthday banquet at the Colonial Office, and afterwards were present at Laxly Granard’s reception at Forbes House, which presented a brilliant scene. The gathering included Ambassadors, Cabinet Ministers and members of the House of Commons. General Botha, interviewed, said be was profoundly impressed at the confidence shown by the Imperial Government in freely revealing its foreign policy. “For the first time,” he continued, “we realise the questions occupying the attention of the Home Government and the extent that they influence the dominions. The Conference .has commenced under the happiest auspices, and. in a manner host calculated to cement the bonds of Empire.” Air. Fisher, interviewed, said: “The' Government of the United Kingdom is to he congratulated on the way it has taken the dominions’ representatives into its confidence. The step marks a new era in the development of the Empire. Once taken this step cannot be retraced.” j Two hundred thousand spectators were present at the League of Empire parade. Sir Joseph Ward and a number of Australian visitors wore present.