IMPERIAL AFFAIRS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1215, 25 August 1911, Page 5

IMPERIAL AFFAIRS.

AN AUSTRALIAN VIEW.

By Telegraph—Press Ai-stociation-Copyrielit Sydney, August 23.

Senator Pearce, Federal Minister of Defence, who has arrived hero on his return from the Imperial Conference and the Coronation festivities, states that tho Australian delegates did not support Sir Joseph Ward's resolution at the Conference for greater legislntiro powers to deal wilh British and foreign shipping; beciwso tho Federal Constitution gives full power to deal with navigation. Nothing further was wanted to deal with British and foreign shipping.

Regarding cables, Senator Pearco says the Conference unanimously agreed, in tho event of considerable reductions not being effected in the near future, to lay nn Atlantic cable. The question of a Stateowned cable will be considered by a subsidiary conference.

Referring to Sir Joseph Ward's motion for an Imperial Parliament of Defence, Senator Pearco says it is evident that Iho matter had not been .horougnly thought out. For instance, it was proposed that this Parliament should have power to make peace and war, but that the Domiiiion Parliaments were to retain control of their armies. Thus tho body declaring waT would havo no means to effect its policy. It was also proposed that the United Kingdom should havo two hundred members, and tho whole of tho Dominions only seventy-five. Such ft schemo had no hopo of acceptance.

MR. BATCHELOR, IN JAPAN. Sydney, August 24. Mr. E. L. Batchelor, Federal Minister for External Affairs, who has returned hero from England, via the East, str.tes Uiat ho was well received in Japan as au Australian politician. Everybody ho met was cordial nnd friendly. No mention was mado of a "White Australia," unless the subject was raised.