Military Co-ordination.

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3070, 4 May 1917, Page 5

Military Co-ordination.

The resolutions recommend tho appointment at tho earliest , possiblo moment of an expert committee representing tho United Kingdom, ,tho Dominions, and the Indian military authorities, to consider various patterns of military stores and equipment in -use, -with a view to the selection of standard patterns .for general adoption as far as tho special circumstances of each country will permit;

That the ordnance and personnel of the Empire's military organisations bo trained by tho same methods and principles. Ordnanco officers from all parts of the Empire should ho attached for adequate periods to the Imperial Ordnanco Department; Also, that the Admiralty shoiijd bo requested to work \ out, immediately after the war; tho most effective scheme for tho Empire's naval defenco for tho consideration of the Governments which were summoned to tho Conference with tho Admiralty's recommendations regarding the Empire's future security. . . Trade Organisation. The Conference welcomed ■ the increase in the number of Trade Commissioners, and recommonds tho Government concerned to co-operate in assist ing the service, especially for tho promotion of interim-Imperial trade records. The view expressed in tho 1907 Imperial Conference resolution was modified to permit the full representation of India at all future Imperial Conferences, and the assent thereto; of the various Governments is to be obtained.

Craves of the Fallen. The Conference Drays that the King shall constitute by Royal Charter the Imperial War 'Graves Commission, on the lines proposed by thp Prince of Wales to the Prime Minister. The Conference records its deepest appreciation of tho French Government's generosity in allotting a perpetuity tenure of the land where our men are buried, and urges that similar arrangements be made in the peace terms for all Illy, enemy and neutral Governments, in Gallipou, Mesopotamia, Africa, and elsewhere. ' The Conference is of opinion that the readjustment of the constitutional relations of the component parts of the Empire forms too important and intricate a subject to deal with during the war, and should be discussed at a special Imperial Conference immediately after tho war. ■ ,_ ; The Conference records its opinion that such a readjustment, while thoroughly preserving aIT the existing, powers of self-government and complete control of domestio affairs, should be based on a l full recognition of tho Dominions as autonomous nations of the Imperial Commonwealth, and that India, as an important portion thereof, should recognise the right of tho Domiinons anil India to an adequate voice in the Empire's foreign policy and foreign relations, and should provide effective arrangements for a continuous consultation on all important.matters of common Imperial interests, and that such concerted aftion, founded on consultation as the several Governments may determine, will recognise tho importance of securing a uniformity of the Empire's policy and action in regard to naturalisation.

The Conference commends the proposals submitted by the Homo Office to the overseas Governments, and recommends that steps should be taken without delay to establish in London an Imperial Mineral ; Resources Bureau, on which the whole of the Empire will be represented, and whose duties will include- tho advising of how our mineral resources may 'be developed and made available to meet the Empire's motal requirements. ~ A Self-supporting Empire. In view of the experience gained from the war, the. Conference calls attention to the importance of developing an adequate, capacity of production of naval and military material, munitions, and supplies, in all the important parts of tho Empire, including countries bordering on the Pacific and Indian Oceans, where such facilities at present do not exist. The Conference affirms the importance of a close corporation 'between India, the Dominions; and the United Kingdom, and with' this object iirges that the present system of double income taxation within the Empire be taken in hand immediately after the war, and tho law amended regarding the present unsatisfactory position. In view of the experience of tho war tho Conference' records its opinion that the safety of the Empire and a necessary • development ot -its component parts require prompt amf attentive consideration and concerted action in regard, firstly, to the production of an adequate food supply, arrangements for transportation, when and where required under any conditions that may reasonably be anticipated; secondly, the control ot natmal ■esourccs available within the Empire, especially those of an essential character, for necessary national purposes, whether for peace or war; Sly, tho economical utilisation of sch natural resources, through men* act, ing processes, that may he conducted within the Empire. The Conference- commends the Governments concerned to consider the enactment of legislation in that direction. _ "After expressingits view that the time has arrived when all possible encouragement should be given for the development of our Imperial resources, especi- " Iγ in making the Empire independent of other countries m respect to food supplies and the raw materials essential to industries, favours, firstiy, the principle that each part of the Empire, having duo regard to the interests of our Allies, shall give specially, favourable treatment and facilities to produce •uid manufactures from other parts of tho Empire; secondly, that arrangements ho made whereby intending emigrants from the United Kingdom may be induced to settlo in countries under tho British flag. . The Conference having examined the memorandum on-the position of the Indians in self-eoveriiing Dominions, presented by the Indian representatives, accepts tho principle of reciprocity of treatment, and recommends the memorandum to the favourable consideration of tho Governments con-cerned,—Aus.-N.Z, Cable Aesn.-Reuter.