SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 4, 21 August 1911, Page 5

SIR JOSEPH WARD.

INTERVIEWED OX THE IMPERIAL CDXKEKEXCE. 15y Electric Telegraph—Copyright. United Pnss Association. B\duey, August 20. Sir C. Ward arrived by tlio Ruapehu. He stated that the recent Imperial Conference completes the tenth conference he has attended, and he agreed with Mr Asquith that the result:; of the last conference, both in quantity and general benefit to the Empire, vrerc of a most, solid and enduring kind, first as regards matters touching on international relations with the Empire, and second in regard to matters touching on international relations.

The chief among the former is the undertaking of the Imperial authorities that hereafter no international agreement will lie entered into which affects the oversea dominions without a conference or consultation witn the dominions affected. This will obviate a good deal of heartburning that has boon frequent in the past, occasioned by the Imperial Government completing an agreement vitally affecting the oversea dominions w ithout reference t: those dominions. The prevailing practice on the part of the Homo Government now is to strictly limit all its international treaties to the Lnitdd Kingdom, unless the oversea dominions desire inclusion, and this undertaking on the part of the British Government to obtain release from existing commercial treaties of any dominions desiring freedom, is a concession to {he autonomy of ail the self-govern-ing countries of the Empire. During the discussion on the proposed creation of a final Imperial Court of Appeal, Air Asquith admitted the dominions had well founded reasons for complaint. The Imperial Government has now undertaken, at his instance, that’ resolutions submitted by Sir J. G. Ward to alter the constitution and procedure of the existing Court of Appeal for the overseas Empire, to be in two divisions, the one to hear appeals from the United Kingdom, and the other from the overseas dominions. The Privy Council is to be strengthened by the addition of two of the ablest English judges, and the procedure is to he assimilated to that of the House of Lords.

Another long stride towards Imperial unity was the agreement arrived at unanimously in respect to Imperial naturalisation, in the past, the most striking anomalies have existed. Those naturalised in New Zealand or in Canada, for instance, while British subjects within these dominions, were aliens in any other part of the Empire. The utmost diversity prevails between the two dominions.

It is significant of the extent to which the people of the United Kingdom desire closer Imperial unity, that ever 200 members of th'e House of Commons, representative not of one party but of all parties, memorialised Mr Asquith to promote a closer association of the oversea dominions with the Imperial Government in cpntrol of great Imperial interests, particularly defence, and to do this by means of a Council really representative of all parts of the Empire. This memorial was consequent upon a resolution tabled by Sir J. G. Ward for discussion at fhe conference.

“In submitting the motion,” said Sir Joseph, “I never contemplated the possibility of its being agreed to, as an organised system. It only sought, the affirmation of a principle, and as a matter of fact the principle underlying the motion was affirmed.” Mr Asquith declared, on the part of the British Government, that it was in tiio fullest sympathy with any practical means for bringing the oversea dominions into closer union with the Motherland, and the sentiment was repeated by various oversea representatives, notably General Botha. Subsequent discussions upon Imperial defence, which, owing to the necessity for secrecy, I cannot disclose, satisfy mo beyond doubt that effective cooperation for defence of the Empire cannot be secured without tire adoption in some shape of the principle ol Imperial unity I advocated. It is generally recognised, while there may bo several navies in the Empire, there cannot, for effective purposes of Imperial defence be move than one Imperial naval defence policy. Recognising that the best results of the one policy is one great Empire navy, 1 have always advocated, as New Zealand’s contribution to the navy, a money grant, on condition that the ocean highways should ho fully safeguarded, as well as the shores of the different dominions.

Tlio Imperial Conference's proposed appointment of an Empire Commission, with representatives on it from the Motherland and oversea dominions, is a very valuable and important one. Such a commission, if men' of wide experience and knowledge are appointed, must lie able to obtain evidence that will enable all concerned to improve the trade relationships existing throughout the Empire. Necessarily such a commission cannot interfere with the fiscal policy of a portion of the Empire, but with over increasing efforts to secure trade by foreign countries, it is. all important that nothing should be loft undone by the respective British countries to improve the conditions of the vast and increasing trade between themselves. Summed up, all must agree with Mr Asquith that the results of the recent conference had been very solid and practical, and that none of these could have been attained rapidly or effectively except by the moans of discussion which took place, and the decisions arrived at at the Conference in London.

Sir J. (1. Ward's attention was drawn to the endeavours of Mr Fisher, while in London, to have the British possessions in the Pacific placed under Australian control. Sir Joseph would make no statement, preferring to preserve a neutral attitude.

When twenty days out from Marseilles, Sir Joseph' received a wireless message as to aho rumour of handing over Tahiti to Germany in connection with the Moroccan trouble, and he wired contending it would bo .against the best interests of the British community in the Pacific. He was glad to hear it was not true. Sir J. G. Ward loft early on Sunday for New Zealand.