Linking the Empire.

Thames Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 10525, 25 April 1907, Page 2

Linking the Empire.

BfiiBLLEAENir G«A|THBRIN|G AT WE3STMiENISTEiR IL\I,L.

PAIRUAMEHTIAiRY LUJTCHBOIN' TO

6OMB;N!6fIiA©IJQ iSPiEDSOEEJS.

(Per United Press Association)

LONDON;, April 24. The Parliamentary.; luncheon to tih© Premiers a* Weatiminster Hall -was a 'brilliant success, nuimlbering 650, iaeluding the Lards, and Commonere, iMjimieiteirsi, ek-tMjinistere, and notialMe ladies, High' Ctommissioners, Agento-G-enefal. There was a pidbutesque procession of the Contferencie representatives and their ladies, Sirl W. Laurier i€tading, Mistress Dieiakini, who mil on thle left of Sir Campbell Banneraian, and! (Madame La,ur nr on the rigjhit. The guests ovartdorted Sir C, BWneiiman, who proposed the heajtii of the Quests, mupled tvritih thle name* of Sir W. Lauri'er', emphiaeing 1 the historic ohariicter and signiifkanioe of tihie Oiddasion, 1, and ■greeting the iWniera will goodwill and affection. He «*»«- ---•nrsed the 'patriotic Bacrifkteis to tihte British GovernmterLt. Batih -the Oppi6> sitdoni and Paniiamient were: auxionu to pay ail honor to thie visitors.

Mti. IJalfour N ie(lioitioiu&ly supported the toast. "The gulests hiad as much righjti to th.«" historic! memories suggested by the jajreat Mall they w^-e in as ottrselves."

iSir W. Laurier, whb responded, said he onoe droaant that ho would have liked! ai seat in the Imperial Parliar ment^on whiichi to do so much, for the liberties -of mankind. iEe reoogndsed thiait later it might prove a soutrtfe of emlbWrassmeint to both the SMbtbierland and the dlamghters. The; nation's best wajr to maintean the Empire was to allowl every eommiuniity to adininisteat its affairs in its own Parliament 1. LouiS Botha had a great redeptiom He pnoposefdl thle motihier of Parliar meats, from whom sprangr the <tousltatution for which the Transvaal Was gratiejful.

liord LoVeburn and James Lowti^r responded. . .