IMPERIAL AFFAIRS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1129, 17 May 1911, Page 5

IMPERIAL AFFAIRS.

MR. FISHER IN LONDON.

AUSTRALIA AND THE COMING

CONFERENCE,

THE ALL-RED ROUTE,

By Teleiraph-Press Association-Copyrieht London, May 15.

Mr. Andrew Fisher, tha Australian Prime Minister, has arrived here to attend the Imperial Conference and tho Coronation.

Mr. J, Ramsay Macdonald, M.P., leader of the British Labour Parliamentary Party, met him at Paris; Sir George Reid, High Commissioner for the Commonwealth, and Captain Muirhead Collins, Sir George's private secretary, went to Dover to welcome him; and among those who went to Charing Cross Station to meet him were Sir C. Lucas, head of tho Dominions Department of the Colonial Office, Sir Joseph Ward, Mr. M'Gowon, Premier of New South Wales, Messrs. Henderson, G. N. Barnes, and Will Crooks (Labour M.P.'s), other Labour loaders, and the Australian Agents-Gen-eral.

Mr. Fisher, in' an interview, referring to the recent Federal referendum on tho monopolies question, said ho considered tho approval of the people had merely been deferred.

Dwelling on tho progress of the Labour party in Australia, he said he was satisfied with the present situation. He had an ample working majority in both Houses. "We are," ho said, "a steady, progressive party, with definite aims and aspirations, and have every confidence in our cause."

He added, ■ "Industrially and socially, progress has never been so marked in my twenty-eight years' experience."

SOME AUSTRALIAN TOPICS,

THE VISITOR'S VIEWS. (Rec. May IG, 11.30 p.m.)

London, May IG. Mr. Fisher stated in a subsequent interview that hn intended to study Mr. LloydGeorgo's insurance and social schemes. Legislation of that kind would seen bo adopted in Australia.

He wished to dissipate Ihe idea that the Labour party was hostile In immigration, though it objected to attempts to exploit settlements. Personally, he favoured making the Mother Country better aware of the splendid opportunities in Australia. They wanted honest, healthy immigrants, whether they had money or not. Ho was not in favour of a Referendum as a method of taking a popular vote on matters of policy, on account of the delay it involved.

To a representative of Router's Agency Mr. Fisher stated that the recent Referendum in Australia in no way reflected upon the, position 'of the labour partv which desired to give Parliament anil not any one party a greater control over trade and commerce.

Turning to Imperial affairs, Mr. Fisher said far tho most important matter for the coming Conference would bo the. question of Imperial defence. Tho Ausfcraliaja. Labour party's view could !x> summarised thus: Australia must first bo able to defend .herself before she can consider what is her share in the general Imperial defence.

r,..Tho Australian Government was .not hostilo to the All-lied route, but had refused to join Canada and New Zealand in subsidising the Vancouver service, as New Zealand, was soiling the samo class of produco as Australia, and consequently there was a feeling among Australian producers that they were subsidising competitors.

DOMINIONS AND FOREIGN POWERS, INDEPENDENT NEGOTIATION. (Rec. May 16, 8.55 p.m.) . London, May 16. "The Times," in commenting upon Sir Wilfrid Laurier's suggestions for the discussion at the Imperial Conference of the improvement of the All-Red route, and the clearer definition of the status of foreign Consuls-General, says that British Ministers are equally eager with their overseas colleagues, to deal with the former question.

On tlio second, Canada's view is that Consuls should l>o recognised as semidiplomatic agents for direct communication in questions affecting Canadian interests. While no British statesman desires to limit Canadian autonomy, no part of the Empire ought to 'have" relations with.foreign Powers, unless it was prepared to faco the full responsibility for its own diplomacy. The semi-diplo-matic activities of foreign Consuls-Gene-ral might at any time give rise to questions affecting the Empire's interests;