PREMIERS’ CONFERENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3763, 27 April 1907, Page 2

PREMIERS’ CONFERENCE.

Entertained by Colonial Institute. Vigorous Speech by Mr Deakin. London, April 25. The Colonial Institute gave a dinner to the visiting Premiers in the White-hall rooms yesterday. The function was the greatest of the season. Four hundred guests were present. The chair was occupied by Lord Elgin, Colonial Secretary. Among those present were Lord Halsbury (Lord High Chancellor in the Balfour Cabinet), the Duke of Marlborough (Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies in the Balfour Government), the Duke of Norfolk, Lord Jersey (ex-Governer of New South Wales), Lord Alverstone (Lord Chief Justice of England), Lord Brassey (ex-Governor of Victoria), Lord Ranfurly exGovernor of New Zealand), Lord Rothschild, Lord Strathcona (High Commissioner for Canada), Sir Edward Grey (Minister of Foreign Affairs), Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton (ex-Governor of South Australia), and . Sir George Sydenham Clarke (ex-Governor of Victoria). A casual reference by Lord Elgin to Mr Chamberlain evoked immense and prolonged cheering. Sir Wilfred Laurier, Premier of Canada, eulogised the granting by Britain of the constitution to her late enemies in South Africa as a continuation of her generous policy. THE SPEECH OF THE EVENING. The speech of the evening was delivered by Mr Deakin. The Australian Premier bantered Lord Elgin for the restriction of: information as regards the proceedings at the Imperial Conference. He said he was glad Lord Elgin had published Mr Haldane’s speech on the principle of deience, but why stop there ? Did the Empire exist only for defence? Must there be brain for the array, brain for the navy, and no brain for commerce ? Why, if the Empire was able to stand shoulder to shoulder for defence, was it unable also to do so for the protection of commerce ? Traders were exposed to subsidised foreign competition, which placed a false weight in the scale against Britishers. At least Britain might insist on equal terms, and make Imperial citizenship a reality as well as a name. Dr Smartt (Commissioner of Public Works, Cape Colony), Sir F. W. Borden (Canadian Minister of Defence), Sir Robert Bond (Premier of Newfoundland), Sir Reginald Talbot (Governor of Victoria, who is at present on a visit to England), and Lord Tweedmouth (First Lord of the Admiralty) also spoke. Lord Tweedmouth urged the need for the army and navy alike to be full of mobility, so as to be able to serve where required. That could only be secured by liberty and unity—liberty for each part ■of the Empire to have a say as to what was best for its defence in that part of the world to help the Empire as a whole, and unity between all parts of the Empire in time of danger.