IMPERIAL WAR CABINET

Waikato Times, Volume 88, Issue 13488, 19 May 1917, Page 5

IMPERIAL WAR CABINET

LAND MARK IN BRITISH HISTORY. MR LLOYD GEORGE'S VIEWS. DESIROUS OF A PERMANENT COUNCIL. (Reuter's Telegrami.) Receded Maj 18, 8.5 p.m. LONDON, May 18. In the House of Commons, Mr Lloyd George said he desired to report to th« House the very important decisions arrived at by the recent Imperial War Cabinet, as it was desirable that Parliament should officially be acquainted with an event which constituted a land mark in th« constitutional history of th« British Empire. He outlined the events which led up to and the proce dinga at the meetings, and said a decision had lieen reached which would enable us to prosecute the war with increased unity and vigour and would be of the greatest value when the negotiations for peace were d scussed. Fresh min's and new view points of the Government's colleagues which had been brought to bear on the problems had been of immense help. As far as the Government was concerned they could, with confidence, state that ihe experiment was a complete success. The Imperial War Cabinet was unanimous that the gathering had been such a service not only to its members, but to the Empire, that it ought not to be allowed to fall into desuetude, and he hoped an annual meeting would be agreed upon and become an a r cepted couvintion of the British Constitution. After referring to its functions he said the members had not attempted to settle what contronl developments might evolve. The question of perfecting the mechanism for considering Imperial and foreign affairs between the autonomous nations of the Imperial Commonwealth was reserved for a special conference, to be summoned as soon as possible after the war to readjust the constitutional relations of the Fmpire. He believed the proposal to perpetuate an Imperial Cabinet, including India, would commend itself to all the nations of the Empire.