IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2362, 19 January 1915, Page 8

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

MEETING THIS YEAR ADVOCATED. (Contributed.) The holding of the ordinary Imperial Conference this year was suggested by "The Times" in commenting on Mr. Andrew Fisher's news upon naval defence, and Mr. Fisher cordially ondcrsed the suggestion. The idea has been criticised in various quarters on the ground that it , would be unsuitable to consider the alteration of Imperial rotations during the war, that British Ministers cannot spare time from their arduous duties arising out of the war, that it would be inconvenient for the Prime Ministers to be away from their respective minions, and that the Conference should be postponed until the British Government suggests a later date to the Dominions. To those who assume that during the nest few months the Empire will be making its greatest effort in .the war and that such effort will be successful in terminating the war in the near future, a conference for the purpose of considering constructive changes in the relations between the Dominions and tho United Kingdom is obviously open to grave objection. But this does rot take into account I an aspect of the question which is at present of the highest importance, namely, the. need for an Imperial Conference to consider how the Dominions can best direct their efforts in assisting the British Government in the conduct of the war. The present position is that several separate Governments are co-operating in waging a war for their existence. Must not tho Admiralty, the War Office, and the Foreign Office at the present time have information which, if placed before the representatives of the Dominions, (vould enable the Dominions to make their efforts proportionate to the task before them, and to co-operate as effectively as may be in tho prosecution of the war and to make such preparations for the future as are called for? ~.,,,,. Further, is it not most desirable that Great Britain and the Dominions should discuss their respective views as to the peace settlement? The special interests of all parts of the. Empire will be affected in that settlement. The British Government is .by the nature of the case woll informed as to the interests of the United Kingdom, and must certainly desire to be as well informed as to the interests of the Dominions. This cannot be done merely by communications between each Dominion and the British Government, but. is essentially a eubjwt for a joint discussion - with the representatives of al the Dominions present and should be done well in advance of any prospoot of settlement. It has been pointed out that it is difficult for the Prime Ministers or other Ministers to go away from their Dominions to a conference. If it is admitted that a conference of tho kind suggested ii necessary, then for them not to go on account of political duties in their own Dominions is to rank the concerns of a Dominion as of higher importance than those which determine the continued existence of both of it and the Empire as a whole. This is not the place to examine the anomalios and the dangers of attempting to maintain our national existence by the co-operation of 6eperato Governments, but it is clear that such co-oper-ation can be effective only if the Dominion Governments are well informed upon tho naval and military situation, and also upon foreign affairs. We know that there is no means by which they are kept adequately informed in these 'matters save by tho Imperial Conference or the Imperial Defence Committee.

It would indeed appoar that except by means of these conferences Dominion. Ministers have very little more information than is published in the Press. Surely it is open to tie Dominions on a matter that so vitally concerns them: to inform the British Government of their desire to attend a conference at the usual date. , Tho conferenco would presumably, be shorn of the entertainment hitherto customary, and be purely confined to the business in hand. To sum up, the suggestion -is not for a. conferenco to discuss the alteration of Imperial relations, but for the Dominion Governments to obtain the information which alone will enable them most effectively to direct tJioir efforts in the conduct of the war, and to prepare for any possible future developments.