IMPERIAL AFFAIRS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1187, 24 July 1911, Page 5

IMPERIAL AFFAIRS.

RESULTS OF THE CONFERENCE,

STATEMENT BY MR. HARCOURT.

By Telegraph—Press Ajsociation-Copyricht

London, July 21. In a debate on tho Colonial Office Estimates, Mr. L. Ilurcomt, Secretary for tho Colonies, replying to Sir Gilbert Parker, said tho Imperial Conforenco had brought co-operation within the Empiro nearer than anything previously.

The Conference's resolution for a Royal Commission on Imperial 'Trade would not prevent tho Dominions irom passing any legislation they chose, but it hound the Commission not to make recommendations in referenco to fiscal policy in any part of the Empire.

Without absolutely committing himself, Mr. Harcourt said ho thought tho terms of the resolution ought-to be the terms of refere'nee, but, if it were found that this permitted inquiry into the fiscal policy of different parts of tho Empire' he would not hesitato to amend tho reference. It was unfair to measure tho accomplishments of the Conference by its resolutions.

Referring to the unwillingness of the Premiers to accept his proposal for a Standing Committee, the Minister remarked that it was an attempt to meet New Zealand's resolution, and it met tho views of Sir Joseph Ward and the Australian representatives, but failed to appeal to the other members. The ultimate position was that the Premiers said: "Steady, young man! You are going too fast." (Laughter.)

Concluding, Mr. Harcourt said he had to accept a position that no British Minister had ever been in before—namely, that of pressing on the Dominions a greater amount of consultation than they wished; but he willingly accepted the Conference's decisions. The consultations on Imperial defence had been a great success) and of great value. The Court of Appeal arrangements had given ample satisfaction to every Dominion. ' The debate was adjourned. THE JAPANESE ALLIANCE. POSITION. OF. DOMINIONS. London, July 21. In the House of Commons Lord Wolmer, Conservative member for Newton, inquired to what extent the oversea Dominions had been committed by the approval of tho Anglo-Japanese Treaty, and whether Japan had been informed of the Dominions' course of action in tho event of Britain becoming involved in war under Article 2 of the treaty. Sir Edward Grey, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, said the action of the Dominions in the event of war would be a matter for consideration by tho Imperial Government in consultation with the Dominions. It was not a matter for discussion with any foreign Government. SOUTH AFRICAN NEUTRALITY. GENERAL HERTZOG'S >VIEWS, (fiec. July 23,. 5.5 p.m.) Pretoria, July 22. The Bloemfontein newspaper "Volksstem" in returning to the charge in its advocacy of neutrality for South Africa during an Imperial war, quotes Canadian newspapers in support of tho neutrality proposition, and declares that the Coronation festivities have proved that South Africa is not lacking in loyalty. . It would be ahsμrd J urges, that the Empire should'be , Tlunged l , into war simply because the Government of one portion happened to develop a quarrel.

Speaking in the same spirit, General Hortzog, the Union Minister for Justice, in an address at Turkfontein, said there was no reason to resort to immigration to cope with danger • from without and within. The situation in South Africa was not like that in Australia and Canada. South Africa's nearest enemy was seven thousand miles distant. The country did not participate in European intrigues, and was not concerned in European ambitions.