MISCELLANEOUS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2355, 11 January 1915, Page 6

MISCELLANEOUS

LONSDALE'S APPEAL. ... Copenhagen, January 9. Lonsdale's application for appeal to the Military High Court has teen granted. KAISER'S HEALTH. , London, January 8. Copenhagen reports that the Kaiser has become mentally impaired by the strain of Buffering and constant friction between him and l bis General Staff.— ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Rec. January 10, 5.5 p.m.) Amsterdam, January 9. The'Pnissian Government has forbidden festivities on the 'Kaiser's birthday, and recommends religious observances. The Ministry for War has cancelled the usual parades, and substituted church parades. : AUSTRALIANS INTERNED IN GERMANY. London, January 8. The American 'Ambassador at Berlin (Mr. J. W. Gerard) suggests that Australians interned in Germany should obtain. birth certificates, as Dominion subjects are better treated than other British prisoners. Correspondents to the Australians are advised to send, postcards, rot letters. . "PESTILENTIAL STOFF." London, January 8. Following the suppression of seditious newspapers in Dublin, a Larkin editior of the "Worker" has been printed ir Glasgow. It is full of the same pestilential stuff.—("Times" and Sydney "Sun' : Services.) GERMAN BAKERIES' OUTPUT. (Ree. January 10, 3 p.m.) London, January 9. The bakeries in Germany have beet prohibited from working at night, t< prevent fresh bread from being suppliec in the morning. It is thus expected t( reduce the public consumption oi bread.—("Times" and : Sydney . "Sun' Services.) UNCLE SAM'S SENTIMENTS FOR FRANCE. (Rec. January 10, 3.20 p.m.) Paris, January 9. 4?nasident iWiloon, iu a letter to M

Poincaire (the French President), re-! g retting that the latter will be unable to visit the American Academy, expresses America's friendliest sentiments towards the citizens of France. DOMINIONS AND THE EMPIRE THE NEXT CONFERENCE. London, January 8. It la stated in Toronto that Canada will agree with Britain's decision regarding an Imperial Conference. Australia's desire for a conference will he influential with Britain and the other Dominions. It is believed the war will involve a radical readjustment of the problem of Imperial defence. —("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services. NOT TILL AFTER THE WAR. (Rec. January 10, 4.40 p.m.) London, January 9. ■ Reuter's correspondent states that none of the Dominion Governments have asked for an Imperial Conference to be held in 1915. The Imperial Government at the outset of the war intimated that a conference would' be impracticable in such distracting circumstanced Thi6 view is now repeated in consequence of statements in the Press that Mr. Fisher (Prime Minister of Australia) favoured a meeting. The Imperial Government hae not heard any desire from the Dominions not to adhere to the original proposal postponing the event until after the war, beyond the suggestion attributed to Mr. Fisher. ■ MR. FISHER'S VIEW. Mr. Fisher vaß interviewed, in Auckland on January 1 with reference to the London "Times's" suggestion that an Imperial Conference should be held this year. He approved of the proposal, and gave his reasons for so approving in the following words:— ; „ "I think the London 'Times' is right in the attitude it takes up, and in the opinion it has 60 clearly expressed," said Mr. Fisher. "Many of our difficulties 'have arisen from the want of opportunities for the meeting of representatives of the Dominions and the Mother Country. Canada stands in a different position to most of the other Dr.miniowi. since she-is in such close proximity to the Mother Country, and can easily communicate with the Government there at any time on any matter in which difficulty arises. That is not possible in this portion of the world, and the gravest issues can only be dealt wi'Ji by cable or by dispatches, which arrive not before a. month has elapsed. In my opinion a conference during this year would be of more value to all parties concerned than 1 any, that has yet been. held. It 'would afford to the world evidence of a fact —too little known— that all parts of the British Empire, even whilst'at war/ can meet together and discuss a critical situation in as calm and deliberate a manner as if it were not engaged in any great war at all. I have not changed .my views as to the necessity of one or more of His Majesty's Ministers in Great Britain paying an official visit to his most distant Dominions. ,1 hope that phase of the matter will, not be lost sight of even at this critical juncture if the holding of a conference be not possibje. I on,-in favour of Imperial Conferences being held' every two yearß, because I think our strength lies in getting into the closest possible touch with' each other, i.e., in personal consultations and deliberations. By these means the ties of unity will be strengthened to H greater- extent than by any other method I can suggest." When seen last evening,' Mr. Fisher, after indicating the extraot from the Auckland "Herald," stated that, in expressing his.views, he had no intentioD of embarrassing the Imperial Government. Such, a conference as suggested would require no organisation, and no contentious matters would be raised. It would be a conference of unification, that would tend to knit the Empire closer together.