WITHDRAWN.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14453, 27 May 1911, Page 5

WITHDRAWN.

SIR J. 0. WARD'S SCHEME. FOR IMPERIAL DEFENCE PARLIAMENT, DESTRUCTIVE CRITICISMS. Press Association—By Tel.—Copyright. LONDON, May 25. Tlie Imperial Conference sat all day, Mr Asquith presiding. Mr Harcourt, Secretary of State for tho Colonies, was also present. Sir Joseph 'Ward outlined his proposals at length. Imperial organisation, ho said, was more urgent when two of the greatest dominions had already embarked on navy policies. New Zealand looked forward to substantially increasing her naval contribution, and was surely entitled to some voice in the question, of peace or war. He suggested that tho United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Newfoundland should elect an Imperial House of Representatives for defence, with an representative for every two hundred thousand of population, members to be elected for five years; also an Upper Council of twelve members, giving equal representation to each part. The British and other delegates opposed Sir Joseph . Ward's proposals, which were withdrawn^ THE SCHEME EXPLAINED. Received 10 p.m., May 26tJi. LONDON, May 26. At the.lnmerial Conference Sir J. G. Ward .said tlio fact that two of the greatest Dominions had already embarked on naval policies emphasised 1 tho need for an Imperial Council to co-or-dinate and harmonise naval defence. Independart policies would! not make for thisetrongest position in maintaining tho Imperial ties. He preferred to .call the suggested body an " Imperial Parliament' of Defence," as defence was the vitally paramount .quesiton, and even more important to Britain than to the overseas ominions, considering her naval burden. The day for partnership had arrived, and the question was on what basis the partnership should rest. It could not rest on the present relationship, this not giving the parties a voice in the management. For the protection of British ships, food, and people on the sea, Canada's and Australia's local provision, however good, would be inadequate. Imperial organisation was necessary. The present lines of national divergence with regard to naval defence would tend to increase as the Dominions grow to full stature, unless British statesmen, promoted a partnership, with representation. Tho proposed Council would only deal with Imperial essentials. Its framework should bo elastic, as efficiency- ind durability demanded. Ihere -hjuld be no iiit-iference bv one rvnic • of ihe Empire with. ano;h»r in regard to local land forces, but proper i aval unjtv would secure the peace of the world for generations. QUESTIONS AND OBJECTIONS. Sir Fisher asked whether the Council would have power of coercion by legislative act. Sir W. Laurier said he -understood that the Council we.ild have power to vote contributions which would have to be fixed for the different Dominions. He seriously objected to that. Sir Joseph- Ward replied that he wanted uniformity' among the preservers of the whole of the overseas interest. Mr Asquitk_said that apparently the Council would have nower to impose of contributions and policy upon dissentient communities. an empireTarliament. Sir Joseph Ward, continuing, said that under -his scheme Britain would have two hundred and twenty members of the House of Representatives, Canada thirty-seven, Australia twentyfive, South frica seven, New Zealand six, Newfoundland two, while the Imperial Council would consist of two members from each. Mr Asquith asked whether in a Council of twelve Britain would have two representatives anl the Dominions ten. Sir Joseph Ward said, the Council would be mainly consultative and advisors'; th e executive would consist of not more than 15, of w,honi not more than one would be from the Senate. The Defence Parliament would deal exclusively with matters common to the Empire, including peace, war, treaties, foreign relations, general Imperial defence, and provision of revenue for these purposes. For tho first ten vears the Parliament would have no power off taction, but the amount payable by the Dominions might be bv taxes or as a debt by them. Afterwards tho amount could be provided as the Dominions might agree upon. 50 MILLIONS LOAN. Sir Joseph Ward, continuing, said that the Conference proposals presupposed autonomy of the national divisions, t.be United Kinglom being placed on the same footing as the Dominions. If fifty million pounds were borrowed on a basis of six per cent, including three per cent, sinking fund, twentvfive Dreadnoughts could be built to - protect the Dominions and British trade routes. The scheme was a basis of thirteen million whites in tli3 overseas Dominions, taxed to tSiammmt of ten shilling per head. Three million pounds would pay for interest, s.nbmg fund and the construction of the vessels, anl the remainder would nT \, T k r" nc V ,ava7 Tn ™k f °'' <?«- S °'i A lf * rnl ' a ' Nc "' Z « a and ■South Africa. Mr -Asquifch asked what would be the position „f the British Government. Were tney to conduct negotiations with foreign Pavers and then, if thev enme tojie nomt- of a rupture, should tho matter be held over for tho decision of the new body o Sir Joseph" Ward said tha* the executive would bo responsible to the Defence Parliament i„ mWcTI Brtoin would linvetfie greater representation. The Dominions wo„7d b, exneeted to ™+SL£i * ° f My w '' were entitled to a voice.

Sill W. LAUHJEIfS CRITICISMS. "INDEFENSIBLE AND IMPRAC, TTCABLE." Sir Wilfrid Laurier said tho resolution favoured n Council advisory to an Imjieriiil authority. Sir Joseph Ward's OTguments Savoured something different, a legislative body with power to create expenditure, and no responsibility for providing revenue. Such a scheme would bo indefensible and impracticable. MR FISHER DENOUNCES THE' SCHEME. Mr Fisher said that the plan was impracticable, and would violate every principle of responsible government and tho very basis of British Government. The systems of defence adopted by New Zealand and Canada could be better discussed on another occasion. Australia relied on the British Government to generally safeguard the whole of the naval interests of the Empire, and tho Commonwealth would defend Australia by its own naval and military forces. He would not sny that there was no possibility of an advisory council to (leal with matters arieinz from time to time communicating with ;representatives on tihe spot, and that was ample. A question involving the whole reconstruction of tho Empire could not be considered and decided off-hand. MR BOTHA HOSTILE. Mr Botha declared that the sememe would become meddlesome and .would interfere with tho domestic concerns of t.'ie various parts. It would occasion friction and worries, He sympathised wifHi the underlying motive, but the representation would be nractically ralue- - less. MR ASQUITH'S OBJECTIONS. Received 11.25 p.m., May'2G<jh. • LONDON, May 26. Mr Asquith said that Sir Joseph Ward had brought a concretc. proposal which no other representative was able to accept. His scheme would impair if not altogether destroy the authority of the Imperial Government in the conduct of foreign policy, tho conclusion of treaties, the maintenance of peace, or the declaration of war, and the responsibility of the Government to Parliament. These matters could not be shared. The proposal would impose on the Dominions a policy from which one or more might dissent, and it involved expenditure and taxation of which the people of the Dominions might not approve. Speaking for the British Government, bo could not assont to a proposal so opposed to the fundamental principles on which the Empire was built and carried on. Sir J. G. Ward, in tho face of tho unanimouß opposition, accepted the position with equanimity, and withdrew his proposal. A VICTORIAN ATE\v\ Mr Murray, Premier of Victoria, interviewed by a Press sftid he thought Sir Joseph Ward's Imperial Council ougbA to be .simply a consultative body. Replying to tho suggestion that such an Imperial Council would be useful in co-ordinating tho efforts of different parts of th? Empire in matters of defence, he said he believed the Imperial Committee of Defence was 'quite able to co-ordinate. He did not think Britain's naval -advisers required to be told what to do with the British Navy, by Australia.