THE FISHER INCIDENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 133, 28 July 1911, Page 6

THE FISHER INCIDENT.

London, July, 27. At the annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce the chairman, Mr Paxton, in referring to Mr Fisher’s interview, said tiie Labour Party contented themselves with the self-com-forting statement that Mr Fisher had been misreportod. There was no sign that anyone in the party was pronouncedly declaring that he had no sympathy with such sentiments. At the suggestion of the chairman the meeting rose and cheered, “The British Empire Undivided!” An Australian in London states that he was a member of a party who were breakfasting when Mr Stead called upon Mr Fisher, who did not leave to be interviewed. Mr Fisher had no idea that Mr Stead was upon that errand, but merely to make the acquaintance of a well-known Englishman. When ho returned to the table he was certainly unaware that he had boon interviewed. “1 recognise in several phrases fragments of remarks made to us,” the Australian

said. Included in these remarks was the statement that if the Dominion did not want to. be involved in a British war she would declare her independency; but the meaning given to this statement in the interview was consistent with all Mr Fisher’s authentic. public and private utterances, it would be fair, adds the Australian, to follow Mr Deakin’s admirable example, and suspend judgment untd Mr Fisher can speak for himself. (Received 28, 8.5 a.m ) London, July 27. Mr Murray, Premier of Victon.a, at a banquet tendered to him, declared that it was not English to judge Mr Fisher by the reported interview. They should judge him by ids public utfcenances. Lord Desborough, in proposing the Empire, said no great Imperial question in the future would be settled without consulting the overseas dominions.