IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 996, 25 May 1911, Page 2

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Dondon, May 23

The Prime Minister of Great Britain, Hon. H. H. Asquith, at the Foreign Office heartily welcomed the delegates to the Imperial Conference, and briefly defined the scope of the Conference. Hon, L. Harcourt, Secretary of State for the Colonies, Hon. S. Buxton, President of the Board of Trade, and several other ministers were present.

The Press was not admitted. The crowd cheered the delegates as they entered the Foreign Office. The Conference sat for two and a-half hours.

Mr Asquith, in a half-hour speech, made sympathetic reference to the deaths of King Edward and Sir Henry Campbell-Banner-man, lace Premier of Britain. He emphasised the non-party character of the Conference.

The five Premiers replied. Sir Joseph Ward withdrew his resolution in favour of the admission of the Press as the other delegates considered the speaking would b hampered. An official summary will be isssued daily. Sir Joseph Ward moved his Imperial Council resolution. The Daily Express (Unionist) states that once in every four years the Prime Ministers of the Dominions spend a mouth in England, and we show our sense of the privilege of getting to know what they have to say by making it impossible to hear their voices. The Morning Beader (Biberal) hopes that without impairing the efficiency of the Conference means will be devised to make it open to the Press.

The Chronicle (Liberal) states that the first development of the Conference will be the recognition of the national status of the Dominions by separation from the rest of the Colonies.