IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13265, 20 April 1907, Page 5

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

MR DEAKIN'S PROPOSED SECRETARIAT. A SHARP STRUGGLE. United Press Association—Per Electric Telegraph —Copyright. LONDON, April 18. A long sharp struggle is proceeding at the Conference over Mr Deakin's proposal for ah independent secretariat, instead of the Colonial Office. Mr Deakin declared that he did not want' the Conference to possess executive powers, or even advisory power in the sens© of conveying any authority to interfere with local self-government, but he did want the Conference to be put on a. jiemianent basis, and more regularly organised, and its constitution slightly altered so as to better express its real pur•pose and character. He suggested that besides the Prime Ministers, their ministerial colleagues should be admitted to lend assistance when required, and to have the status of the self-governing colonies recognised not only by the presidency of the British Premier, but by cutting the self-governing ,dominions off ; altogether from the Colonial Office. Lord Elgin is fighting tooth and nail against the proposal to diminish the scope and authority of his department. (Colonial Office). ( THE COLONIAL OFFICE. LONDON, April 18. The "Daily Telegraph" says that if the Colonial Conference is reconstituted on Mr Deakin's lines the Colonial Officers nose Will probably be put out of joint. It adds, "Australia and New Zealand, rim some risk of support for their vigorous forward mivemeht,; while Cape Colony and Natal also advocate in a little less degree the Conference moving forward into a definite recognised place in the scheme of empire." DETAILS OF PROPOSALS'. OPPOSITION WEAKENING. LONDON, April 19. Mr Deakin proposed' that the Secretariate should deal with all matters exceptionally interesting, and that the colonies should communicate through the British Prime Minister, leaving matters of pure administration, or merely current communications, to pass through the present or any other channel. The colonial Premiers should communicate with the British Premier, or with each other, by the same' channel, it being the duty of the Secretariate to interchange communications between the. conferences, to enable members to meet well-primed, thus economising time/and avoiding the necessity to leave over many undecided subjects for the next conference.

Discussion is proceeding, and a. compro-' mise seems probable, a disposition being evinced to agr-ee to establish an Imperial Council, comprising the British, Prime Minister (who will preside), the" Secretary of State for the Colonies, and the. Colonial Premiers. It is probable that there will. be complete administrative separation between the autonomous and the Crown colonies, upon the ground that the autonomous colonies are governed by their own people, while the Crown colonies are governed by the Motherland. .. ■■_ Mr Deakin and Sir v J: G. Ward strongly criticised the present system of Colonial Office administration, 'and argued both for reforms and for division. Dr Jameson and Mr Moore supported them. Sir Laurjer's and Mr Botha's opposition to the Australian proposals, are weakening, but there will be no definite decision .until to-morrow, when the final terms of the resolution will be announced. The Colonial "Office also show a tendency to compromise. The military defence question will be discussed to-morrow, when Sir George 'Sydenham Clarke will attend. The naval, defence question will come on on Tuesday, and* preferential, trade on Monday week. SYDNEY PRESS; COMMENT. * : SYDNEY, April 19. Both morning papers: advocate the necessity of caution, in reference, to Mr Deakin's proposal for a. permanent Imperial Council. The "Daily Telegraph" says t'haJt'Mr Deakin is trying to lead into new paths.; where there are many difficulties to meet, with'no prospect of any compensating -.' advantage.