THE EMPIRE'S PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 17 April 1907, Page 3

THE EMPIRE'S PARLIAMENT

OPENING OF THE CONFERENCE. A MESSAGE FROM THE KING. SPEECH BY BRITISH PRIME MINISTER. Hi&S■.'.:?■.■> , London, April 13. The Imperial Conference has opened. The King sent a message welcoming the representatives. He hoped the Conference would have good results in the interests of the Empire. Lord Elgin (Secretary for the Colonics) presided.

Sir H. Campbell-Bannernuin welcomed the representatives. He said he was confident that important matters involving difference of opinion would he approached with due recognition that the will of the people of each part of the Empire must be paramount. The Cuni'cn iko would find that Ins colleagues would join iu the freest discussion oil the important matter of preference, and the British Government would carefully consider any decision the Conference might come to. He was delighted with the assurance of the Right Hon. 1). LloydGeorge, President of the Board of Trade, that the Navigation Conference would have good results. Mr. Deakin (Federal Premier) said he ,waa sure Sir H. Cauipbell-Baiineriuan's remarks would lie read with interest iu 'Australia. All were anxious to cement the ties of Empire, hut it would he most disappointing if uudue secrecy j was observed.

Sir J. G. Ward said the spirit shown by Sir H. Campbcll-Bannerman was exceedingly gratifying. The Navigation Conference showed that discussion had enabled apparently hopeless questions to be satisfactorily settled. If the Colonies were exempted from Home party conflicts, it would be possible lo evolve a policy of continuity which would strengthen the Empire. Lord Elgin, presiding, hoped good work .would be accomplished by the Conference. Sir H. Campbell-Banneraan declared that the British Government was as anxious to promote the well-being of the Colonies as the Colonies themselves. Britain claimed freedom to do what she considered in the best interests of her own people, and to concede similar freedom to the Colonies. "The Imperial Government," be added, "cannot go behind the declared intentions of this country and Parliament; no more can the Premiers go behind the intentions and wishes of their communities and Parliaments. Referring to defence, v.c do not go to you as claimants for money, although we cordially recognise the spirit in which contributions have been made in the past." He continued: "There is room for agreement and advance on many subjects." He considered meetings of the Premiers most valuable, and acknowledged Sir J. C. Ward's and Sir William Lyne's valuable work on the Navigation Conference. He deeply regretted Mr. Chamberlain's illness. Melbourne, April 10.

Sir John Forrest has cabled to Sir. Deakin and his colleagues. He expresses a fervent hope that the Conference will assist in jromoting an increase of trade and commerce among British people, the maintenance of British supremacy at sea, and closer union in the bond of ]o\alty and affection of th« British race throughout the world.

THE KING'S MESSAGE. Eeceived 10th, 9.57 p.m. London, April 10. All the Premiers were present at the opening of the Conference, except Sir Robert Bond, Premier of Newfoundland. The others present included Sir William Lyne (New South Wales), Sir F. Borden (Canada), Dr. T. W. Smarts (Cape Colony), the Right Hon. John Morley, Mr. Haldane, Lord Tweedmouth, Right Hon. Jno. Bums, Right Hon. I). LloydGeorge, Mr. Winston Churchill, and Sir F. Hopewood. Lord Elgin announced that King Edward telegraphed at the first meeting as follows: "I wish you to convey to the Premiers and the representatives of the colonies a warm welcome on my behalf. Inform them that I sliall look forward with pleasure to receiving them on my return. At yesterday's Conference matters were submitted involving weighty interest, not merely in respect oi (be colonies re presented, but of the Empire. The.-,c will, I am sure, receive the most careful attention. I feel confident that the decisions will tend to close i union between the Colonies and the Motherland, and to the stregtheiiing of the confederation of my Empire."

THE BRITISH PREMIER'S OPEXTX'G SPEECH. ; A FIXE EFFORT. Received 10th, 10.9 p.m. Loudon, April Hi. Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman said that lie had much pleasure in sincerely welcoming the Premiers, all of whom were friends of himself or other Ministers. He Tecalled Sir Wilfrid Laurier's, Mr. Alfred Deakin's, and Sir Robert Bond's serviceat the past Conferences. The others appeared for the first time. A speci-i greeting was extended to General Uii,.< Botha, the ''Benjamin" of the brotherhood, whose presence the Premiers would welcome as cordially as the British Government welcomed him. The Premier of Orangia would have been welcomed had its constitution been established, but there could be no avoiding the delay that had taken place in granting the constitution. He recognised the great inconvenience and public and personal sacrifices the Premiers had made in attending the Conference. He hoped they would derive solid compensation. He emphasised the affectionate interest and pride in the Motherland felt in the colonies. It was not necessary, he said, to indulge in too frequent effusive protestations of friendy attachment, and the House of Commons' solicitude was more significant in that it took this for granted. Glancing over the programme, Sir 11. C'anipbell-Bannenmni remarked that this was not a Conference between the Premiers and the Colonial Secretary, bill between the Premiers and the British Government, under the presidency of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, which was a very different matter. Regarding the view sometimes token <>f the proper relations of the Colonies with tinMotherland respecting the expenditure on armaments, he said, it was po.-.-ible to overestimate the importance of the requirements of the oversea dominion.: as a factor in our expenditure, but the cost of naval defence aud the responsibility for the conduct of foreign affairs hang together. Respecting emigration, the matter was of the utmost moment to the Colonies and the Motherland.

Continuing, the British Premier said: '•'J'lic Right Hon. Johu Burns will join your councils, and regarding India Mr J. L. Maekay will advise. The Jlini-ter for War, and the Eirst Jjord of the Admiralty will also attend, and when questions of finance or trade arise, the Right Hon. 11. Asi|iiith, Chancellor of tb.Exchequer, and the Kight Hon. l.loydGeorge, President of the ISoa.nl of Trade, will state the views of the British Government. THE QUESTION' OF PRETERF.XCi;. "MUST HOLD A PUOMIXEXT l'i's[. TIOXV'

Received 10th. 10.38 p.m. ]»ndon. April Hi. Sir Henrv C'ainpbell-Bamiernian, continuing, said that preference must h"id a prominent position. The Government was fully prepared to recognise the frieudlv action taken by some of the Colonies, and discuss the subject in tne fullest ami frankest manner. ''l hope,'' he said, "that an agreement will lie arrived at on many points, but if,_ regarding others, we are compelled to oilier, we dilfer not merely in a perfectly friendly way, but with a mutual respect for the ground and motives whereon our differences are based. If the Conference is unable to arrive at ninding decisions. wc must consult the wishes and intentions of the respective countries' Parliaments, but subject to that limitation I firmly believe there remain mailers of great moment when, there is room for arrangement and advaiire.'Tlo lm;s d ilu-v would l>e able to find a method of ,-.,n----tinuing between the Conference th- definite communications wUicli the Com'.-,--enees make, necessary, but air.ih'n-.; militating against freedom of acla.n ;:n-I independence of individual Siai, - -..:- undesirable, and wholly conirnry lo C genius of our race and our p-lii;. ■: ideals, and sooner or I uer won't ;. ojastrous. He recalled Mr. Chamberlain's

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visible, link 0 f union, which was stronger than n chain gulling in incidence, freedom, he explained, did not necessarily mean letting things drift. He favored auxiliary conferences, like the recent Navigation Conference. The Premiers, he said, would find exhibited a mutual .spirit of friendship, and a desire to .stretch every point stretehahle in order to meet the' views of each part of the Empire, mid a desire to avoid prejudicing the interest of each other, ! "and. above all, person* Mould lie in spired and invigorated by our common pride in the great b-nciicient niissi; a l 1"' ""t'sli 1 I'll' "ere destined to fulfil in all parts oi the world."

THE COLONIAL PREMIERS' SPEECHES Received lGtli, 10.30 p.m. London. April ];;. Sir Wilfrid Laurier (Premier of Canmia) declared that the . an excellent cominriieem"iil lo the Confc:-. ,i.v between the (hrvcrn»L ami CovcnnnciiU. and not between '-";■ Premier ami Lord L'lgiu. The Conference would be aide to ngive in nianv things, though unable at " present lo agree on many, Iml they wore all moving towards the same' goal. "If the principle was always recognised thi't ei*rj- community knows best what i.good for it .'lf. we cannot go wrong, and deliberations must be fruitful." Mr. Deakin (Federal Premier) said Sir It. Campboli-Bannerman's wise and weighty words were most tilting in connection with the opening, and his main memorable sentences, recognising the principle in that they were anxious lo uphold in the Conference between Covernment and Covernments, due recognition being had to senioritv and the scope of those liovernments' millions, Australia would uphold, and Australia would also glidly read Sir Campjiell-Haniier. man's utterances.

Received Kith, H p.m. Mr Deakin, continuing, emphasised the importance of publicity, which, he said, would enable the full educational influence of the Conference to be felt oversea. That strict confidence should be observed by the Cabinet was unnecessary, since the Conference had not a little executive legislative power. A great mass Of subjects on the agenda might be discussed almost in public. He considered the suggestion for subsidiary conferences extremely pregnant, especially when he recognised that the powers the Federal Governments thought large were yet limited. He instanced the question of education, and almost wished the Conference had been held oik of London, for the season that when Parliament was not sitting it would leave the Imperial Ministers at leisure and public attention less occupied. He reminded the Conference that its colonial representatives represented great countries and represented great communities whose future possibilities, equally with the present, must be taken into account. "They desire,'' he said, 'Tor their own sake equally as for yours to be knit closer in mutual understanding," lie recalled that the late Earl Gran ; ville's reference to the ties of both steel and silk at tiie Conference in 1887 was applauded. Sir H. Campbell-Bamier-man's chivalrous reference to Mr Chamberlain suggested that the l'riiuc Minister of Britain ought to be at least titular and present at future Conferences, thus acknowledging the principle of Governments conferring with Governments.

Sir Joseph Ward fully recognised 'that there was some very great differences opinion on some quesfions, but the Con--sjei*rence, with men of ripened judgment, might remove the difficulties. It was Recognised among all classes in t'ae Motherland that there was a common desire to draw the Empire closer. He, hoped the day would come when colonial question would be us distinct from party os foreign affairs. He admitted the colonies were sometimes impulsive, but that they would be able to steer clear of difficulties more than the Motherland and consequently were attaining a position of greater comfort. Received Ifith 11.21 p.m. London, April IG. Df Jameson, Mr Moore and General Botha also spoke. A.tfter pissing a vote of thank's to Sir If. Campbell-Bannerman for presiding at tin- t'onference.it was decided to first discos the e.mMi'.utmn i.l the Conference, and then military defence questions. It 'wys retfojved that the proceedings be 'h;4!d in private, and th.it a daily precis of the proceedings be issued and filid publication of a Blue Book <lea',•Jng with the Conference at the termination oi the proceedings be made. The Conference adjourned till Wedue-ib.y.