THE ASIATIC PROBLEM.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXII, Issue 12394, 19 February 1908, Page 5

THE ASIATIC PROBLEM.

A Question fn !<ie Lords

Lord Erin's Rtpiy

Press Association.— Telegraph.— Copyright.

Received February 19, 8.10 a.m. •LONDON, February 18

In the House of Lords, Lord Ampthill asked if the Government intended to invite the Governments of the colouies to discuss, by conference or otherwise, the question of the treatment of Asiatics in the colonies, with a view to arriving at an agreement upon general principles of Imperial application. Lord lilgin replied that the subject was debated at the Imperial conference by Sir William Lyne and Mr Mackay. The discussions were somewhat lively, Sir Wm. Lyne adopting an uncompromising position, and prescribing conditions the Government of India could never assent to.

New Zealand's attitude was the same as Sir W. Lyne's, and it would be difficult to initiate a fresh discussion so soon after the Conference, besides it would be scarcely fair to begin again before the ink was dry on the settlements recently concluded by Canada and the Transvaal. He undertook to use the first opportunity, either by conference or some more diplomatic method, but the present moment v.as inopportune.