IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1360, 22 June 1918, Page 10

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

DELEGATES AT HOME. Ilil Cahlf. —Pits* Association. — Copyright. ( V. & N.Z.) LONDON", June 20. Sir Robert Borden, Mr Hughes, and General Smuts had a long conference to-day. The Empire Parliamentary Association has organised a notable gathering to be held in the House of Lords on June 21, at which 13 Prime Ministers and three Premiers, past and present, will be the guests at a supper. The guests will include Mr Hughes, Mr Massey, Sir Joseph Ward, Mr Andrew Fisher, Mr Cook, Sir George Reid, Sir Thomas Mackenzie, and three Canadian Premiers. Lord Boscbery will be absent. Viscount Farquhar, Lord Steward, entertained the Dominion delegates at a dinner. The guests included Far] Curzon, Mr Balfour, Mr Austen Chamberlain, Mr W. H. Long, and Lord Robert Cecil. *

Mr Cook, commenting on complaints made bv certain Australian newspapers, says that the stay ol Mr Hughes and himself in America was necessary, as it concerned matters relating 'to the war and affecting Australian interests. Mr Cook adds that Australia is suffering materially through not having direct representation in America, while Canada and other parts of the Empire are adequately represented there to their great advantage. He believed that Australia should have an able, adequate staff in America, certainly during the war, and probably for all time.