FUNCTIONS OF THE IMPERIAL WAR COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2988, 27 January 1917, Page 9

FUNCTIONS OF THE IMPERIAL WAR COUNCIL.

LLOYD GEORGE'S STATEMENT THE WAR POLICY OF THE EMPIRE TO BE CLEARLY DEFINED London, January 25. % Mr. Lloyd George, interviewed by a- correspondent of the United Cable Service, on the Imperial War Council, isaid he had urgently invited toe Dominions' Premiers because he desired their advice and assistance in coming to decisions as to the conduct of the war and the negotiations for peace. Ho regarded the Council as the beginning of a new epoch in the history of the Empire. "The war," lie said, "had changed us and taught us more than we yet understood. It has opened a new age for us. I want to go into that age together with our fellows from overseas, just as wo had gone through darkness and shed blood and treasure together." Nothing, said the Prime Minister, affecting the Dominions in the conduct of the war or the negotiations for peace would be excluded from the purview of tho Council's meetings. Domcstio matters affecting tho United Kingdom would be the only reservation. Replying to a question whether the discussions would include the fate of the German colonics, Mr. Lloyd George said: "Tliat is one obvious question, but there are many questions of equal moment. All will be thrashed out, and tho war policy of- tho Empire clearly besides post-war questions, such as demobilisation, the emigration of our people to different parts of the Em-' pire, the settlement of soldiers on the land, and commerce and industry." In reply to another question, Mr. Lloyd George said he would not hesitate to break precedents at such a time. The Empire had thrown itself and its very soul into tho war, and he would bo failing in his duty if ho did not take every possible step to see.that its leaders got together from time to time. The Creatcst Liberation of the World Is Near.., It seemed -to them an impossible aild undemocratic proposition to think that the overseas nations would raise and place in the field armies containing nil enormous proportion of their best manhood and not want to have a real sa.v in determining what use they wero being put to. For that reason one of the first acts of the new Government was to ask the overseas Premiers ,to , attend, not a formal Imperial Conference, but to sit as an executive Cabinet of the Empire. The Conference would sit as soon as possible. "The war is not yet won," continued Mr. Lloyd George, "and we want to concert our efforts to exert our maximum strength at the critical moment; further, we are most_ anxious that during tho last and most trying phase of tho war, the Empire may present to the world an absolutely united front. The British Government, in its prosecution of the war to a finish, and in negotiating peace, wants to know that it will be carrying out tho policy agreed upon by tho representatives of the Empire sitting in plenary council. AVe stand on tho verge of the greatest liberation tlie world has seen since the French Revolution. Do you tell me that the people who have stood together and staked literally everything to secure that liberation arc not going to find some_ way of perpetuating that unity afterwards on an equal basis ? lam certain the peoples of the Empiro will have found unity in the war such as they never wished for before, and I am certain that the' nations which have bnme the heat and burden cf the day in overthrowing militarism will take a leading share in building up that new earth which will have been taade possible by their sacrifice."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD NEXT.MONTH. , (Rec. January 26, 7.15 p.m.) ''.'■*■■ London, January 25. Arrangements have been completed for the ■ Empire War Conference, which is expected to be held in February, unless there is a delegate-coming from' Australia. Sir Robert Borden's acceptance brings Canada into line with South Africa, India, New Zealand, and Newfoundland. The Colonial Office telegram to all-the Dominions asking-to be definitely informed of the earliest possible date of the arrival of their repectivo representatives indicates Mr. Lloyd George's urgency.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn..