PRESSMEN OF EMPIRE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 461, 8 June 1909, Page 3

PRESSMEN OF EMPIRE.

GATHERING IN LONDON,

brilliant SPEECH BY LORD ROSEBERY.

London, June 6

The delegates to the Imperial Press Conference last night attended the first official function since their arrival in London.

For enthusiasm and representative character, the banquet, at which 600 guests sat down in the largest hall in London, was one of the most remarkable gatherings ever held in the Empire’s capital; and it was memorable also for the oration —the hearers being held spellbound—transmitting the most striking and moving message to every corner of the British Dominions.

Lord Burnham, principal proprietor of the Daily Telegraph, presided, and all the delegates ahd every leading journalist in the country were present. The guests included : General Sir lan Hamilton, Lord Northcliffe (proprietor of the Daily Mail), Mr Max Pemberton, Sir Douglas Straight (editor Pall Mall Gazette), Mr George Parkin (organising representative of the Rhodes Scholarship Trust), and Lord Faber (chairman of the Yorkshire Post).

Conspicuous among the decorations were symbolic Imperial designs. The musical programme included the National songs of Great and Greater Britain. King Edward sent a warm message of welcome, and in response a loyal telegram was despatched from the gathering, hoping his Majesty would long be spared to his people and the Empire.

Lord Rosebery made the speech of the evening, generally pronounced as nothing less than wonderful. Perhaps his most brilliant effort was when, in welcoming the delegates, he emphasised the enormous importance of the gathering, Referring to the conferences of Prime Ministers of the Empire, he said if was no disparagement to those gatherings to say the present Imperial one was more important still. Ministers were transient, while the power of a great newspaper, gaining and embodying opinion, immeasurably .exceeded the statesman’s.

“The best and simplest words on the present occasion—the only two essential, and perhaps the sweetest mortal can hear,” said his Lordship, “are ‘Welcome Home-’ (Prolonged cheers.) This is the motto of the occasion—‘Welcome to your Home.’ ” (Renewed cheers.) Proceeding in a vein of delicate pathos, mingled with flashes of humour and satire, Lord Rosebery pictured what the -delegates had arrived to see of Britain, past and present, including the prodigious but .always inadequate Armada, protecting its shores. “All these, gentlemen,” he exclaimed, “are yours as much as ours.”

He then asked what they had brought, adding that that was more important to the Motherland than what they could take from her; The best they could bring was knowledge about themselves, their communities, their aspirations and policies. latterly, according to a favourite practice of retired politicians, he had dreamed a dream. He had pictured Parliament voting supplies for two years, packing itself up in the obsolete warships now so readily scrapped, and going on a trip to discover something about the Empire. Meanwhile the Motherland would be governed much as it was now, by the heads of permanent departments. There would be, perhaps, greater confidence in its welfare tinder such well-ordered control, (daughter). The Peers would naturally pay their own expenses during the tour, while the Commoners would be voted from the taxes—the Lords paying them. Lord Rosebery next dwelt on the surprises to be found in the countries visited during the imagined tour—the discovery in democratic Canada of a Premier holding his own against the buffets of innumerable elections ; the fact would be learned also that wealth was not a crime. Next it would be found that New Zealand was carrying out —in the total absence of tradition or complexity—policies Britain was endeavouring to construct. The tourists would be astonished at the virility of Australia .in sustaining seven Legislatures. Referring to South Africa—the greatest modern success of Empire building, he said they would avoid Uganda lest they disturb the privacy of an ex-Pre-sidenti Finally, after a tribute to Mr Henniker Heaton’s activity, Lord Rosebery, altering his mood, described the extraordinary impressiveness- of the state of Europe, with its surface so calm and its overpowering preparations for war. He added that Britain was determined to spend, if need be her last shilling on Dreadnoughts. He was not sure if even that were enough. Possibly it would be their duty to carry to the Dominions over-seas the message that the same personal duty and responsibility for defence rests on every citizen, and to emphasise the deplorable condition of Europe rattling into barbarianism. “Pressure is being put oh this little England to defend itself, its liberties, and yours. Take this message . also back; The Old Country is right at heart ; *there is no failing or weakness in her. She rejoices ' in renewing her youth ih her giant : Dominions beyond the seas. For her own salvation she must 190 k to herself; and that failing, fche S,ook to you!” ' I

IMPERIAL NEWS SCHEME. OVERWHELMED WITH PLEASURES. London, June 5. The South African and Canadian delegates to the Imperial Press Conference intend to submit for discussion a scheme for the creation of an Imperial News Agency. This would have a central office in London, trom which news would be distributed throughout the Empire. A lively interest is being manifested in the proposal. An ode of welcome to the delegates, written by Mr Harold Begbie, the well-known author and journalist, fills a column in The Times. Owing to there being only three hours allotted for business on each of tour days, and the overwhelming demand on delegates’ time by engagements for entertainments, day and night, the conference will resume at the end of the month, alter the tour of the provinces. Messrs R. K. Thomas (South Australia), and J. W. Kirwan ( West Australia) have been elected chairman and secretary respectively of the Commmouwealth delegates. GERMANS WATCHFUL. London, June 4. The tone of an article in the Berlin journal “Neueste Nachrichten ” in reference to the Imperial Press Conference indicates that the Germans are closely watching every effort to promote the unity of the British Empire,