THE IMPERIAL WAR CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 266, 30 July 1918, Page 6

THE IMPERIAL WAR CONFERENCE

CONCLUDING SITTINGS

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

SETTLED

His Excellency the Uovernor-General Ims received tho following summary of the proceedings o£ tho Imperial War Conference during the week ended July 2G, 1918, from tho Secretary of State for the Colonies:—

The fourteenth meeting of the Imperial War Conference was held on July 22. Tho conference first discussed, at the instance of the Government of Canada, various problems respecting demobilisation, particularly those connected with •transportation. Ultimately, on tho suggestion of the War Olfico representatives, a resolution was passed agreeing that an advisory and executive co.n ni'.tee, 4o bo known as tho Military Demobilisation Committee of tho British Empire, should bo set up forthwith. This committee will consist of (representatives ot the military authorities of the Dominions and colonies, and representatives of tho Wat: Ojjice, India Oflirc, and the Ministry of Shipping of the United Kingdom, under tlio chairmanship of the Secretary of Stale for War or a deputy appointed toy him. The conimitteo will consider all military questions of demobilisation affecting the various Governments consorncd, will arrange for the fullest interchange ot ln.formation regarding phns lor demobilisation, and will submit questions ot principles arising from time time to tho Governments concerned. The committee will sit prior to geimral demobilisation at such times as the chairman mnv consider necessary, and during demobilisation as frequently as may be necessary to secure complete co-ordinal ion ol the demobilisation procedure by. the Governments concerned. Imperial Oil Supplies, The cont'orenco next dealt with the question of petroleum, and considered a memorandum prepared by Lord Tinrcourt, selling out the .importance of the development of adequate supplies ot petroleum for the British Kmpiiv. I lie conference passed a resolution recommending tho suggestions contained m Lord Hurcourl's memorandum to the seuous consideration of the Governments concerned. in view of the and growing importance of petroleum mid ifc products for naval, miliiaiy. and industrial purposes. f Naturalisation. The remainder of I lie discussions at this sitting coiKerii'. d nauiraiisatton, anil at the instance oi l lie I'iiiue Minister,ol Mew Zealand the ouiereucc- passed, a resolution stating that it was the opinion of the majority of the menibeis that legislation should be passed throughout tho Umpire restricting for a period alter the war, so far us iu the circumstances of each country may oo possible, tlio naturalisation 'of citusens ot enemy countries, and also the Rctiuißitio by tltein of any form o political lights or 'and or mining- privileges. The representatives ot Cauada abstained trom voting, and the South African representative recorded dissent. liefoi'o leaving tho subject ot n^ u Jf sation the conference passed a iurthu resolution recommending that a special conference representative of all parts ot the Empire should be held at tlio oailie-t practicable dale to examine and report on anv question connected w ltli nation idity or naturalisation which any Oovornnient represented at such <speeiul conference may desire raised, and upon am suggestions which jmt.y be numo rp !9 l amendment of tlio Mi;,t u ln ß, conference will be probablj comened next week, so that the overera representatives may have an opportunity o «ittending before leaving the tinned | Kingdum.

India and the Dominions, The fifteenth meeting of tho conference was held on July 2-1. the first subject discussed was reciprocity oi. treatment between India and the.Jtomimons. This discussion followed en the resolution passed by the conference last year accepting the principle of reciprocity, and a further resolution was passed that elfect should now be given to last year s resolution, in pursuance ot which tlio conference as follows— (1) It is the inherent function of the Governments of the several communities of the British Commonwealth, including India, that each should enjoy complete control oyer the composition of its own population by means of restriction oil immigration from any other communities; (!!) British citizens domiciled in any British country, including ludia, should be admitted into any other British country for visits for tho purpose ol pleasure or commerce, includiiig temporary residence for the purpose of education. The conditions of such visits should be regulated on the principle of reciprocity, as follows:— * (a) The right of tlio Government ol India its recognised to enact laws which shall have the effect oi subjecting British citizens domiciled in any other British country to the same conditions in visiting Indin as those imposed on Indians desiring to visit such country: (b) Such right of visit or fernporary residence shall, in each mdividual bts embodied in . a passport or written permit issued by the country of domicile, and subject to vise there by an officer appointed by and acting on behalf of the country to be visited if such country so desires; (c) Such right shall not extend to visit or temporary residence for labour purposes or to permanent

settlement. (3) Indians already_ permanently domiciled in other British countries should be allowed to bring in (heir wives and minor children on coudition: (a) That not more than one wife and her children shall be admitted for each such Indian, and (b) That each individual so admitted shall 1)0 certified by the Government of India as being the lawful wife or child of such Indian, (t) The conference recommends other questions covered by memoranda presented this year and last year to the conference _by the representative .of India, in so far us they aro not dealt with in the foregoing paragraphs of this resolution, to the various (.lovei'iiiueiilo concerned, with a vp to early consideration. The remainder of the subjects dealt with at this meeting are confidential, except that discission on the quest ion oi an Imperial Court of Appeal was continued and again adjourned.

Imperial Court of Appeal. The sixteenth meeting was held on July 26, when the discussion as to an Imperial Court of Appeal was com pie ed and a resolution was passed stating that the conference is of opinion: (1) That the question of replacing the present dual system of appeal by the constitution of one Imperial Court of Appeal demands the prompt consideration of His Majesty s (iO\etnm(°"jtThat the Lord Chancellor should be invited to prepare and circulate toUo Governments of the Dominions and India as soon as possible a memorandum containing such proposals as, in > the opinion ot. .Ilia Majesty's Government, will he piaclical for the purpose, with a view to decision by the next Imperial lonference; (3) That each such Government soon a3 possible thereafter shall communicate to the Government ot the United Kingdom its view with regnrU to such proposals. Control of Raw Materials. Tho conference next considered the report of n special committee appointed at an earlier meeting to consider questions arising regarding the control ot raw materials after the war. The conference approved this report and passed « resolution requesting His Majos y » Gmuimeut 'o communicate it forthwith to the Governments of the. Dominions and India and to ascertain their views as to apnroprialo nation to be taken.. The conference lurthcr agreed that

steps should now be taken to ascertain the needs awl resources of the Allien in respect to raw materials specified in the report. Shipping Communications, The' conference next considered again questions regarding shipping communications in the light, of the report of tho committee appointed to consider this question. . , Tho conference agreed that shipping on tlio principal routes, especially between the heart of the Empire and the oversea Dominions, including India, should be brought under review l>y an lnter-Im-perial Board, on which the United Kingdom and Die British Dominions and dependencies should bo represented. The eonterenco recommended that tor this purpose an Imperial- Investigation Hoard should be appointed representing the various parts of the Enipiro to inquire and report on al! mutters connected with ocean freights and facilities and matters connected with the development and improvement of sea communications between the different, parts of the Empire with special reference to the size and type of ships and capacities ol harbours. the board to iuelude. iu addition to representatives of the Governments concerned, persons with expert knowledge of the problems involved, including representatives of shipping and trading interests. Felicitations, Tho proceedings of the conference terminated with ft resolution moved by tho Prime Minister of Canada and seconded by tho Prime Minister of Australia, conveying to the Secretary of State for tiio Colonies the appreciation of the representatives of India and the oversea Dominions for his lnbours in preparing for and presiding over the conference. This resolution recorded also tho gratitude. of tho oversea representatives for tho mnny courtesies received, from tho Prime Minister and other members of llis .Majesty's Government, and the hospitality extended to fchem by nieut and people of the United Kingdom. After the conference proceedings terminated. tlie members proceeded to Buckingham I'alnce, where a resolution of loyalty was presented to His Majesty, who was graciously pleased to reply. The purport of the resolution and the text of His Majesty's reply are being telegraphed separately by Reuters.