THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

West Coast Times, 21 April 1911, Page 3

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

OUR CABLED ITEMS

Discussion in house of commons . t?EE PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYP.IOai.[ LONDON, April, 20. In the House of Commons, Mr. Guinness’ motion in favour adding a discussion on the international situation to the Imperial Conference Agenda paper, was withdrawn after the Right Hon. Mr. Harcourt (Secretary of State for the Colonies) had promised not to withhold any information which the Prime Ministers desired to have from the Government.

Mr. Guinness welcomed New Zealand’s proposal for an Advisory Council He said it was a real step in the direction of Federation. He doubted, whether the High Commissioners were sufficiently closely in tench with Colonial opinion.

Mr Hornby-Gore, in seconding the motion, said that before Australia’sresolution regarding the naval co-opera-tion status of the dominion navies was discussed at the Conference, Sir Edward Grey should instruct the Premiers as to the' relations between Britain’s naval policy and her foreign policy. Mr. Crawshay Williams urged that the existing Secretariat should bo developed in to a permanent representative Advisory Council. - Mr. Lyttelton (ex- Unionist Secretary for the Colonies) declared that almost the whole strength of the navy, was concentrated at Home. Contingencies in the Far East might make it necessary to add a great many battleships in order to protect the Pacific. It was noteworthy, he said, that neither Canada, Australia, nor New Zealand had undertaken to join in all Britain’s wars.

Mr. Harcourt said that it always had been the Government’s intention to take tho Prime Ministers into consultation on matters of great Imperial concern. The Government would proffer all information required on condition that it was treated with absolute secrecy. The Premiers would also be asked to attend the Imperial Defence Committee.

FIVE EMPIRES IN ONE. LONDON, April 19., In the course of a leading article, the London Times states that the Dominions are being driven, at a dozen points, into practical world politics, and on their own account are acquiring commercial and industrial interests, which are sometimes conflicting with Britain’s. There can be no real security to any Imperial problem, whether population, defence or commerce, unless there is a mutual understanding between the five nations. ■lt is not possible to continue a system 'whereby the foreign policy is a sealed book to all but one partner. It is necessary that the British Government give a frank explanation of British policy, and suggest an arrangement whereby a common understanding would be maintained while the Imperial Conference is not yet in session. Thus the real problem behind New Zealand’s proposals is the foreign policy which hitherto has been continuous whether the Conservatives or Liberals were in office. It is necessary that the policy be strengthened by becoming an Imperial security conscious of the continuous support of the Governments overseas. It is all important that Sir Wilfrid Laurier should be able to attend the Conference.

The Daily Mail deals with the quos tion in a similar leader.