PRESS CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 527, 7 June 1909, Page 5

PRESS CONFERENCE.

BANQUET TO DELEGATES.

AN ADDRESS BY LORD ROSEBERY. STIRRING MESSAGE. (Br T»t.BGn»ru—rituss issocivhon—corTßtOttT.l • (Rec. June 7, 1.15 a.m.) London, June 6. For enthusiasm and representative character, lAe banquet in honour of the delegates to tho Imperial Press Confcrenco, given in tho largest hall in London, was one of tho most remarkable gatherings ever held in the Empire's capital. It will also be memorablo for an oration that held its hearers spellbound while transmitting the most striking and moving message over sent to the Dominion. Lord Bdrnham (principal proprietor of tho "Daily Telegraph") presided. All tho delegates, and every leading journalist in the country were present. The guest* included Major-General lon Hamilton, Lord Northcliffe (proprietor of tho "Daily Mail" and other papers), Mr. Max Pemborton, Sir Douglas Straight (until recently editor of tho "Pall Mall Gazette"), Dr. Goo. Parkin (Imperial Federationisfc and organiser'of the Rhodes Scholarship), and Lord Fabor. Conspicuous among the decorations wera symbolic Imperial designs, and there was a musical programme of national songs of Great and' Greater Britain. x King Edward sent a warm response to a loyal telegram hoping that bis Majesty would be long spared to rule over-the people of tho British Empire.

Lord RoGsbery'B Speech. Lord Rosebery made the speech of tho evening. It was generally pronounced as nothing less than Wonderful, and perhaps his most brilliant effort, In welcoming the delegates he emphasised the ononuous importance of the gathering. Referring to the Conference of Prime Ministers of the Empire, he declared it was no disparagement to those gatherings to say that the present Imperial ono was mom important still.' Ministries were transient, whilo the power .of a great newspaper was gaining, and, as embodying opinion, it immeasurably exceeded the power of the statesman.

Lord .Roscbory added:"The best and simplest words on the present occasion—the only two essential words, and parhaps the sweetest that mortal can hear—are 'welcome home.' (Prolonged cheers.) This is the motto for the, occasion—'Welcome to your homo.'" (Renewed cheers.)

Proceeding in a vein of delicate pathos, with flashes of humour and satire, ho drow a picture of what tho delegates arrived to seo —of Britain past and present, ■ including the prodigious but inadequate armada protecting Britain's v shores. "All these, gentlemen," he exclaimed, "are . yours as muoh as ours." Ho then asked what they had brought, adding that that was more important to tho Motherland than what they could-take from .her. The best they .could bring was knowledge about themselves, their communities, their aspirations, their policies.

A Flight of Imagination. Latterly, according to a favourite practice of retired politicians, ho dreamed a dream. He pictured Parliament voting supplies for two years, packing, itself up in obsolete warships (now so readily scrapped), and going for atrip to discover something about the Empire. Mcanwhil6 the Motherland -vas governed much as now by tho heads of tho Permanent Departments. Some would have, perhaps, greater confidence in its' welfare under such well-ordered control.. (Laughter.) The Peers would naturally pay their own expenses on the tour. Tho Commons voted the • taxes, the Lords paid them. ■ He next dwelt on surprises met with in tho countries visited on this imagined tour. The discovery was made in democratic Canada that the Premier was holding his own against tho buffets of innumerable elections, also that wealth was not a crime. Next, New Zealand was carrying out, in total absence of tradition, or complexity, policies wo in Britain were endeavouring to construct. Ho was astonished at the virility of Australia in sustaining seven ' Legislatures. Referring to South Africa, ho termed that territory tho greatest modern success of Empire-building. He would avoid Uganda lest ho disturb tho privacy of ex-President Roosevelt,

Last Shilling on Dreadnoughts. Finally, after a tribute to tho activity of Mr. Hcnniker Heaton (of penny postage and cheap cablegrams fame), Lord. Rosobery, altering his mood, described with extraordin-' ary impressivcnes3 tho state of Europe, its surface calm in spite of its over-powering preparation for war. He added: .. ."Britain is determined to spend, if need bo, the last shilling on Dreadnoughts. I am not sure that oven that would be cnougli.; Possibly our duty is to carry the Dominions a'message that the same personal duty and responsibility for defence rests on' every citizen." V ; Aftor omphasisin'g the-deplorable condition of Europe, sinking into barbarism, ho added: "Pressure is being put on this little England to defend itself, its liberties, and yours. Take this message also back: "The Old Country Is right at heart. There is na failing or weakness in her. She rejoices in .ronosing her youth in ' her giant Dominions beyond the seas. For her own salvation she must look , to herself, and, that failing, she will look "to you."

A PROPOSED PRESS AGENCY. ODE OF WELCOME. (Rec. June 6, 4 p.m.) . London, June 6. The Commonwealth delegates to the Imperial, Press Conference have appointed Messrs. Thomas (Adelaide) andKirwan (Kalijoorlie) their chairman and secretary respectively. ■The South African and Canadian delegates intend to submit a. schemo for the creation of an Imperial'news-agency, with a central office in London, to distribute news throughout the Empire. Lively interest is manifested in tho proposal. Mr. Harold Begbie, journalist and author, has writton a stirring ode of welcome to tho delegates,-which .fills a column of "The Times:" Owing to only three hours being allotted on each of the four days sot apart for business, and owing to the overwhelming number of entertainments day and night, tho conference will resume at tho end of tho month, after completion of tho provincial tour. OFFER OF ADREADNOUCHT. (Rec. Juno 7, 0.55 a.m.) Melbourna, Juno G. The Federal Government has cabled to tho Imperial Govcrenment olforiug alternatively a Dreadnought or some other approved addition to tho Navy.