IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13270, 26 April 1907, Page 5

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

THE DEFENCE QUESTION. PRESS OPINION. United Press Association—Per Electric -Telegraph —Copvright. LONDON, April 24. The newspapers welcome the prospect of the voluntary, co-ops-ration'-of the. Empire's forces. .The "Morning Post" says:—Mr Haldane's memorandum sounds the true, note of Imperial .statesmanship, seeking not centralised control,' but rather unity of aim. It is time the Admiralty. realised ■ that the navy was made for the Empire, not the Empire for tha navy. . It; is as-import ant •to recognise the national aspirations of Australia and Canada!, who 'insist on controlling their own - forces, as that the sea is the highway of thei Empire. The "Morning Leader" declarer, that the secretariat will be the civil link of the Empire, and--the'lmperial staff the military link. It is easy to see the advantages and equally easy to see the dangers ,b.oth being real. The virtue must reside, not in the organisation, but in the men working it. . While the spirit that made the Empire remains*, the Empire will nofc be wrecked. Renter learns that the suggestion that Mr Botha intends. to . propose a special Transvaal defence force is incorrect. If any special defence force is organised itwill not be confined to one State,'.but'be common to the whole of'South'Africa. ' THE STATE PREMIERS' DEMAND. . • , MELBOURNE, April 25. The whole of the correspondence in connection with the State Premiers' demand to be represented at the, Imperial Conference has been published. Mr Deak?n, writing to Lord Elgin in reply to Mr Carruthers' representations, declared that to approve of the participation of the States would be to admit that the existence of the Commonwealth -was altogether unnecessary. He characterised Mr Carruthers' memorandum as irrelevant and unconstitutional; excepting the preposterous 'assumption that, unless the Spates were admitted to the Conference, they would regardless, of the ties with_ the Motherland, encourage a spirit of independence of an authority which refused to sympathise with them. Such a suggestion, said"-Mr Deakin, was; scarcely deserving of. comment. He added that-excepting in the ranks of a certain number of State politicians who for personal reasons resent limitation of their powers, there was no dissatisfaction with the proposed constitution of the Conference. AUSTRALIA'S NAVAL PROJECTS. LONDON, April 25. Mr Deakin and frr W. J. kyne in a preliminary interview with Lord Tiweedmouth, discussed Australia.'s naval: projects. Lord Tweecunoutli said that the Admiralty would be content, to let matters remain untouched, but to consider fresh suggestions. M.r Deakin is hopeful that lie will he able to arrange satisfactory'terms. ,