IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 94, 10 June 1911, Page 5

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

CA BLE NEWS By Electric Tehmraph—C'MiyrighUnited lVe«s As'mmat inn.

BRITISH GOVERXMEXTS PROPOSAI PREMIERS’ FREE DISCUSSION London, June A Mi. Ilarrourt produced tlie nicmor.v.j ■lum lie promised at Hie Conference las’ week, lie referred to ,tho provision ii IPO? for a subsidiary conference. He sue gested now that matters comr.g withii the purview of the Confere'nco which, could not he dealt with by the subsidinr confercnco should he referred to a standing committee of the Conferon'c. com prising representatives of the dominion 1 The committee would virtually he a snl si diary conference, not limited to on subject, and meeting more or less at regular intervals to transact business referred to it by the Secretary of State with the assent of the dominions. Ii would he advisory, not executive, and would deal with matters concerning the pa»t conference or preparations for the approaching one. The committee’s advise would bo given to the Secretary ot State and communicated to the dominions through the Govcrnors-Gcncral. though the High Commissioners would he free to inform their Governments about the proceedings. The dominions would have power to appoint special representatives instead of High Commissioners. Air. Harcourt intimated that the C.e vernment did not wish to press the re solution unless it met with the unanimous wishes of the delegates. Sir Joseph Wan] said it would he r considerable improvement if the gap between the conferences were bridged by machinery provided to deal with ques tions not brought to a final issue. Whih he did not agree with all the suggestions in the memorandum, ho though that with slight alterations it would meet th case. The existing machinery was in sufficient. Ho was willing to accept th proposal as evidence of the Home Government’s desire. The machinery, whirl while facilitating practical decisions lrway of suggestion, would leave the u' ; ‘ mate power in the hands of the Govern ment. Mr. Harcourt said that in deference U the criticisms, he proposed to omit refer once to the High Commissioners as re present?.. lives, leaving the different Co vornments to appoint whom they pleas eel. Mr. Fisher declared that the time had arrived when somebody should carry or the work between the conferences. IT thought the proposal would enable r

discussion of Hie views of tlio dominions Hitherto responsible ministers had tol ' the Conference what they could dnabon' their respective departments, but nov they' had taken the delegates entirel; into their confidence in matters of g;eat concern. Hence it was more necessary to have a subsidiary body tn^fayilita-C close communication. Ho agVeed tha' tbc committee should he purely advisory with freedom on the part of the domin ions to select representatives. In re gard to the conference bein'* extended be thought the conferences would liave to be held at shorter periods than four years, unless larger powers were entrusted to some person or body. Hen oral Botha said be would rot like to accept the proposal as it. stood. Tin object of the Conference was to accun uniformity and obtain the attendance o r members of some standing. This would not he secured if some dominions appoint ed High Commissioners and others selected officials of different kinds. He thought the Ministers presiding at the Conference should bo .responsible fo. carrying out the decisions anived at. He favored the holding of subsidiary con fercnces to consider special questions The standing committee ought not to discuss special matters or interfere vit! the work of the responsible Government He failed to see how the committc' could do the work any better. The Con ference bad a comprehensive agenda while as an outcome of the Conference it was probable there were one or two important matters not appearing on tbr agenda. Sir Wilfrid Laurier viewed serious!; any interference between the Home and dominion Governments. The organise lion of the Colonial Office had giver ample satisfaction. Mr. Mai an said if the committee wore advisory to the Secretary for State it seemed to follow that the Coufeienc< was also advisory. If the committee acted under instructions, the matters could well be dealt with through Hr Cover nor-G moral.

Mr. .ITarconrt declared that thr> Government liail no intention Ilia 1 . th proposal should operate dcrogatm - c (ho position of the dominion Governments. Tho proposal was -nton-gecT to meet, what tho Government believed =OlllO of tho dominions drsirod. It did not imply that tho Homo Gnvernr.ien' was conscious of any defireney in tho Colonial Ollico machinery for all Imperial purposes. Sir Joseph Ward slated thru, some extraordinary misconception existed in regard to (ho nature of the proposal. The dominions would still retain supreme decision. Ho failed to see how dangers could arise from the. Conference relegating important matters to a snh-eomniiltre. Obviously there imi-t be complex subjects that would he better dealt with by a standing committee. However wed a Secretary of Slate discharged hU duties. (Imre were matters from the dominions’ standpoint which ir would he unfair end improper to ask the Secretary to undertake. Question's of vital importance to (ho previous Conference remained unsettled and were likely to remain so for (he- want of machinery to thresh out the details. He instanced the questions of (lie double income lax, the death duties.

u.J the Cu r. Canal dues. The distance n reused the ditiicuita s of Australia and Ww Zealand attending tnbsidiary conferences compared with other colonics, the idea prevailed that if the proposal vere carried it would help the Impsr.al Council idea. He was satisfied that would come when public opinion was Jew. Mr. Harcourt undertook to give effect v-forc the next Conference to all quesns decided at tills Conference. Mr. Batchelor asked whether the army of resolutions at previous conferences t-mlted in concrete action, instancing ,e naturalisation resolution. Mr. Harcourt said a general resolution oh naturalisation was carried, but the moment the individual dominions were committed acute differences arose. Sir .Joseph Ward said that was due to r-o absence of machinery to carry out a? details. General Botha said that no Government would allow itself to be ruled by i committee. Its creation m.ght be a false step tondi:*g more to breaking town than to building up. Sir Edward Morris. Premier of Newfoundland, said the Conference illustratd what little effective work it was posJble tc accomplish. The proposal was withdrawn. CONFEHENCF. ADJOURNED. (Received 10. S.o a.m.) London, Juno 9. The Conference has adjourned until Triclay next.