WITHDRAWS

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1150, 10 June 1911, Page 5

WITHDRAWS

ANOTHER IMPERIAL SCHEME. BRITISH PLAN FOR A STANDING COMMITTEE. THE CONFERENCE DIVIDED. NEW ZEALAND TO THE RESCUE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Gopyrieht (Rec. Juno 9, 11.35 p.m.) London., June 9. The Imperial Conference continued its sittings yesterday, Mr. Harcourt, • Secretary of State for the Colonies, presiding in the absence of the Primo Minister. The principal business of the day was the discussion of a motion by the chairman for tho establishment of a standing committee to bridge over the gap of four years between the conferences. Tho Australian and New Zealand delegates supported the proposal, Sir Joseph Ward making an especially vigorous speech. Canada, South Africa, and Newfoundland opposed the motion, and it was accordingly withdrawn. Mr. Harcourt's Plan. Mr. Harcourt produced a memorandum referring to the provision mado in ISOV for a subsidiary conference. He suggested that matters coming within the purview of the Conference, and which could not be dealt with by a subsidiary conference, should be referred to a Standing Committee of tho Conference comprising representatives of the Dominions. Such a committee would virtually bo a subsidiary conference, but .would not bo limited to tho discussion of ono subject. It would meet at more or less regular intervals and transact tho business referred to it by tho Secretary of State with the assent of the Dominions. The committee would bo advisory, not executive, and deal with matters concerning the past Conference, or the preparations for tho approaching one. The committee's advice would be given to the Secretary of State and communicated to tho Dominions through the Governor-Generals and Governors. The High •Commissioners would, however, also be free to inform their Governments about the proceedings. The Dominions would have power to appoint special representatives in place of the High Commissioners. Mr. Harcourt intimated that the Government did not wish to press tho resolution unless it met with unanimous approval. Sir Joseph Ward's Views. Sir Joseph Ward said it would bo a considerable improvement if tho gap between tho Conference wero bridged, and machinery provided to deal with questions not brought to a final issue. While he did not agree with all the , suggestions in tho memorandum, he thought that with slight' alterations they would meet the case. The existing machinery was insufficient, and ho was willing to accept the proposal as evidence of tho Home, Government's desire for tho introduction of .machinery, which, whilo facilitating practical decisions by way of suggestion, would leave tho ultimate power in the hands of the different Governments. Mr. Harcourt said that in dcfcrenco to criticisms ho proposed to omit reference to tins High Commissioners as representatives on the committee, leaving the different' Governments' 'to ' appoint whom they pleased. Timo For a Change. Mr. Pisher, Prime Minister of Australia, declared that the time had arrived for somebody to carry cm the work between the Conferences. He thought a proposal would enable tho views of the Dominions to bo discussed.

Hitherto the responsible Ministers had told the Conferenco what they could about their respective Departments, but now they had taken the delegates entirely into their confidence on matters of great concern. It was hence more necessary to have a subsidiary body to facilitate closo communication. He agreed that the committee should be purely advisory, with freedom on the part of the Dominions to select their representation with a view to 'the confidence to be extended. He thought tlve Conferences would have to be held at shorter periods than four years, unless larger powers were to be entrusted to eorno person or body. General Botha Objects, General Botha, Prime Minister of South Africa, said ho could not accept the proposal as it stood. Tho object of the Conference was to secure uniformity and to obtain the attendance of members of some standing. This would not bo secured if some of the Dominions should appoint to the committee their High Commissioners while others selected officials of a different kind. He thought the Ministers presiding at the Conferenco should be responsible for carrying out its decisions, and favoured subsidiary conferences to consider special questions. A Standing Committee ought not to discuss special matters or interfere with the work of responsible government. Interference Resented, Sir Edward Morris, Premier of Newfoundland, said the Conferenco illustrated how little effective work it was possible to accomplish, and he failed to seo how a committee could do tho work any better. lhe Conference had a comprehensi\o agenda, while its practical outcome would probably bo confined to one or two important matters not appearing on the agenda paper. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Primo Minister of Canada, said ho viewed seriously any interference between the Homo and the Dominion 'Governments. Tho organisation of the Colonial Office had given ample satisfaction. Mr. Malan, Minister for Education in South Africa, said if the committee were advisory to the Secretary of State, it seemed to follow that tho Conferenco was also advisory. If tho committco acted under instructions, the same matters could well be dealt' with through the Governor-Generals. Mr. Harcourt Explains, Mr. Harcourt declared that tho Government had no intention of making a pro-1 posal derogatory to tho position of the Dominion Governments. The proposal was intended to meet what the Government believed some of the Dominions desired. It did not imply that the Homo Government was conscious of nny deficiency in tho Colonial Office machinery for all Imperial purposes. "Extraordinary Misconception." Sir Joseph Ward stated that there seemed to bo somo extraordinary misconception of the nature of the proposal. Tho Dominions would still retain tho supremo decision. He failed to seo how dangers could arise if tho Conferenco relegated important matters to a sub-eom-mittce. There obviously must be complex subjects which could be better dealt with by a Standing Committee however well the Secretary of Stato discharged his duties. There wero matters which, from a Dominion standpoint, it wa9 nnfair and improper to ask the Secretary of State to undertake. Questions of vital importance from the previous Conferenco remnbed.

unsettled, and were likely to remain so for want of machinery to thresh out their details'. He instanced tho ([iiestions of double income tax, death duties, and the Suez Canal dues. Distance increased tho difficulties in the way of Australia and New Zealand attending subsidiary conferences as compared with the other Dominions. Tho idea prevailed that if the proposal were carried it would help tho Imperial Council idea. Ho was satisfied that that would come when public opinion was ripe. Ministerial Promise. Mr. Harcourt said ho would undertake to give effect before tho next Conference to all questions decided by this Conference. Mr. Balchclor, the Commonwealth Minister for External A flairs, asked whether any of the resolutions of previous conferences had resulted in concrete action. He instanced those on the subject of naturalisation. Mr. Harcourt, in reply, said a general resolution on naturalisation had been carried, but the moment tlie individual Dominions were committed acuto differences arose. Sir Joseph Ward: That was due to tho absence o£ machinery to carry out tho dotails. General Botha said no Government would allow itself to be Tuled by a committee. Its creation might be a false. step tending more to breaking down than building up. Mr. Harcourt said that whilo the diccussion was informative, the want of unanimity on the part of the delegates compelled him to withdraw his suggestion, A Motion Withdrawn. Sir Joseph Ward withdrew his resolution dealing with the proposed reconstruction of the Colonial Office—to the effect that tho Department of tho Dominions be separated from that of tho Crown Colonies, each Department being placed under a separate Permanent Secretary, that the title of the Secretary of State for- tho Colonies bo changed to that of "Secretary of State for imperial Affairs," that the staff of the Secretariat be incorporated with the Dominions Department, that tho High Commissioners be given information regarding matters affecting the Dominions and also be invited to attend meetings of tho Committee of Defence when naval or military matters affecting the Dominions wero under discussion, eU. Civil Service Interchange. Sir Joseph' Ward then moved— "Interchange of Civil servants: That it is in tho interests of the Imperial Government, and also of the Governments of the Oversea Dominions, that an interchange of selected officers of tho respective Civil Services should take place from time to time, with a view to the acquirement of better knowledge for both services with regard to questions that may arise affecting tho respective Governments." The motion was carried. TREATY-MAKING POWER. AN IMPERIAL CRISIS. London, Juno 8. Tho "Standard" describes Sir Wilfrid Laurier's motion to secure freedom for Canada from existing treaties as an Imperial crisis. Tho paper recalls the British Government's firm refusal in 1891 to sound foreign Governments regarding denunciation of trea-ties, and the Marquis of Ripon's declaration in 1895. Tho ultimate effect of Sir W. Laurier's motion would, assorts the "Standard," be .a policy of dismemberment.