IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10175, 9 June 1911, Page 2

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

DOMINIONS AND TREATIES

SIR. "WILFRID LAURIER'S MOTION.

United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received June 9, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 8. The Standard " describes Sir Wilfrid Laurier's motion as an Imperial crisis, and recalls the British Government's firm refusal in 1891 to sound foreign Governments regarding the denunciation of treaties, and also I-iord Ripon's declaration in 1895, and says that the ultimate effect of Sir "VS ilfrid Laurier's motion would be a policy of dismemberment.

STANDING COMMITTEE

MR LEWIS HARCOURT'S MOTION

■WITHDRAWN. At the Imperial Conference Mr Lewis Harcourt presided. He outlined a proposal for a Standing Committee to bridge the gap between the conferences. Mr Andrew Fisher, Sir Joseph Ward and Mr Batchelor agreed that such machinery was needed, but Mr Botha, Mr Morris, Mr Malan and Sir Wilfrid Laurier disagreed, preferring subsidiary conferences to consider special questions. Mr Harcourt said that, while the discussion was informative, the want of unanimity compelled him to withdraw the proposal. COLONIAL OFFICE RECONSTRUCTION. Sir Joseph Ward withdrew his resolution dealing with the reconstruction of the Colonial Office. CIVIL SERVANTS. Sir Joseph Ward's motion favouring the interchange of visits between the Civil servants of Britain and the dominions was carried.