PREMIERS’ CONFERENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3762, 11 April 1907, Page 3

PREMIERS’ CONFERENCE.

London, April 9

The Times urges that much can be done at the coming Conference to bring nearer the ideal. It considers equality can be granted in the domain of consultation forthwith. Sir Henry CampellBannerman is the only person able to properly preside at the opening gathering of Impend Prime Ministers. That the Prime Ministers of the Empire should be presided over by a Departmental Minister is a direct negation of the principles of equality and a direct subordination of the colonies to a British department. It is true that Sir Henry Campell-Banner-man is busy, but the other Prime Ministers were equally busy, and yet came from the ends of the earth. Sir Henry CampbellBannerman’s absence will create an unfortunate impression, all the more as the one practical result the colonies desire to achieve —preferential trade—is hardly likely to be realised, at any rate extensively, on the present occasion. The first of a series of articles, entitled ‘ ‘ The Conference and Imperial Unity,” appeared in the Times, with the sub-heading, “ The Fundamental Issue —Severance of Partnership.” The writer contends that the key universally applicable to the solution of existing difficulties must be sought in the constitutional position of the colonies, which now feel themselves nations brought into the arena of world politics. Hence the United Kingdom’s monopoly of political power and privilege in all foreign and Imperial questions, natural enough in the colony’s infant days, has uow become intolerable. He predicts that the industrial development ot the colonies will call for an extension of influence over the tropics and tor the sea power necessary to maintain it. Imperial unity—the keystone of the arch enabling them to withstand all danger —can only be preserved by the admission of the colonies to a patnership on the lines laid down by Lord Milner, and based on equality ot political status. The',Standard says it is but due to the Colonial visitors to their sacrifice ai l( i the magnitude of their missioh. that the chair should be taken by Sir H. Campbell-Banner-man, who could not be surpassed in his gift of graceful rhetoric and skill irt guiding a debate. Moreover aV section of the Radicals regard Ipord Elgin’s Imperial pre-. possessions with increasing disfavour <Jvhile Sir Henry CampbellBannenWn retains their unqualified confidence. . Mr lyeakin, interviewed by thirty reporters, recognised the generositV of Britain during Australia’s * ficubation. Now they were free* of official supervision Australia I would be the last to consentta its renewal or application to ethers. The Conference was a recognition that the colonies were Tot lirectly represented in

the councils of the Empire, but were at least entitled to be in matters of common concern. Its success was assured before its opening, owing to the manner in which public attention here and in the colonies had been focussed upon it. Its purpose was to think Imperially with practical results. Discussion on its merits of the New Hebrides Convention was unlikely, but the extraodinary mode of making the Convention would be discussed. Having regard to Australia’s representations to the Colonial Office he declined to express an opinion on the attitude of the States Governments on their noninclusion in the Conference.