IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2963, 29 December 1916, Page 5

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

PROMPTITUDE DISPLAYED

(Rec. December 28, 8.50 p.m.)

London, December 27. The "Manchester Guardian" says:— "What impresses ono most in the invitation to the Dominion Premiers is the energy and promptitude displayed. It is only a month since the small War Cabinet was initiated, and only a week since Sir. Lloyd Georgo made his first speech as Premier, and already the invitation has gone out. ]b is hoped to have the first meetings at the ,end of February, this necessitating distant Premiers packing their boxes immediately. This rapidity of dacision and promptness to act aTe. supreme virtues and argue well for tlio future. Already the decision to hold an Imperial Conference had begun to sprout, under the influence of current events, and Government Departments' arc ito longer forts for passively resisting tlio influence of new ideas." The "Manchester Guardian" concludes with the hope that the conference will discuss Irish settlement.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. REALLY A WAR COUNCIL AN EPOCH-MARKING EVENT (Ucc. December 28, 11.15 p.m.) London, . December 27. There is considerable satisfaction in political clubs over the announcement that the Imperial Conference is really a special AVar Council, bringing the wholo of the Empire into closer touch with the Tacts of the. conflict.and the conditions which must bo achieved before pcacc. It is understood that Mr. Bonar Law was responsible for the immediate summoning of tho conference. He pressed his proposals strongly on Mr. ASquith. ; '

The "Daily Chronicle," commenting . on tho conference, says:."Tlio Dominions have richly merited this rccogni- - tion. There'is something sublime in the sheer nobility of their free-will war offerings, hut under the existing system tho Dominions might be dragged by inept British statesmanship into a war with- which tho Dominions wero not concerned. Our political machinery must be adapted to give them a voice in shaping Imperial policy." , • The newspaper hopes the Irish settlement will be'a by-product of' the pporh-m aking con f ercnceA'u s.-N.B .\ Cablo Assn. DIRECT BEARING ON PEACE (Rec. December 28, 8.-50 p.m.) '■ London", December 27. Tlio "Star" comments on ..the convening of tho Empire War Council, and says: "It Vlirectly bears on peace, indicating clearly that tho Allies regard 'seriously- Germany's corifirenco. proposals."—"The Times." FEDERAL PREMIER WILL BE FREE TO ATTEND i , — (Rec. .December 28, 10,'p.m,)! Melbourne, IDecomher .28. Mr. Hughes preserves strict silence regarding his intentions to attend the Imperial Conference. 'Die Senate elections, due iu May, have been postponed for fseveral mouths, and' it is understood that Mr. Hughes would be free to leave in the middle of January.—Press Association. . APPROVAL IN CANADA. ' . , Ottawa, December 27. Enthusiastic approval, is ' given to Mr: Lloyd George's proposal to hold an Imperial .War Conference. The Press hails jilr. Lloyd George as a statesman with the widest Imperial outlook, and declares"that 'the ' Empiro anxiously awaits such a conference at the .present crisis.— Cable Assn.^