IMPERIAL PRESS CONGRESS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 114, 11 June 1909, Page 2

IMPERIAL PRESS CONGRESS

COLONIAL .NATIONALISM. WHAT JT IS LEADING TO. London, .liine 11. ■Mr. J W. Kirwa.i (editor of the Miner, Kalgoorlie), l-i'sjHiiiiliiip .«u behalf of the guests at the luncheon at the House of Commons, emphasised the steady strengthening of tUc spirit of colonial nalionalisin, namely, the spirit and ,|iride of iieing Australian, t'anadian 'or New Zealand. Yet. he said, a change was coming over the dominion* trail the Empire. They were surc.y tending towards a period of closer aliiMice, und the Empire in future would be grander and greater than in the past, inasmuch as it would consist of a great family with a new nation's strength and pride in the Motherland. THE BOUND OF FESTIVITIES. Several Cabinet Ministers and all the London editors were at Mr. LloydGeorge's to'eakfast. The w«nther was delightful during Lord XorthcliuVs entertainment at Sutton Place, Guildford. Xo speeches were made. There were 230 guests, amongst whom were Lord Roberts, Lord Esher, Lord llobert Cecil, and Lord Hugh Cecil.

In the evening Sir Kit-hard Beachcroft, chairman of the London County Council, held «. reception at the Orafton Galleries. There were u thousand guests, wilio included Ixmdou mayors and municipal officials. PKESS CIt'ITICISM.

The Chronicle says the endorsement of Lord llOscJiery'h warning made a deep impression on the audience. The Daily Express says the manly syeeches of Sir- Edward Grey, Mr. Alfred L.vttcilton mid ..Mr. Ward make fur more for peace than the "itiiMTo-.it jiinkeWngs" of labor leaders in Germany, The general opinion is that such discus'sions as yesterday are .the best possible 'preparation for v oiifidential olljcial debates.

GENERAL. Next month uu opoi'tunity will le given the delegates for meeting and hearing Britain's Headers and public men. Tlutf should have the best results of the visit. Mr. V. W. Ward's .speech showed the conference's o|iiniiHi of those who sheltered themselves behind 'the Hug ought tf take their share in tllio maintenance of. the fleet. UNIVERSAL MILITARY TRAINING London, June 11. Mr. Balfour, presiding, delivered a remarkable speech at the Press Conference, Tie endorsed Lord Rosebery's views, adding thai if an Armageddon occurred it would not be in the remote parts of the Empire, but in European waters.

Mr. Hal/lane, Secretary of State for War, agreed with Mr. Balfour and Lord Rosebery. and advocated his scheme for a general staff in touch with the staffs of lite colonies. v Mr. Geo. Feuwiok (Duncdin), Mr. E. S. Cunningham (Melbourne) and Lord Roberts also spoke. Mr. Fink, proposed n motion urging the advocacy of universal military training. Mr. Mark Coilicu (Dunedin) seconded the motion and urged that Lord Roberts should be sent as a missionary throughout the Empire. The conference disapproved of adopting any resolution, therefore the motion was withdrawn.

MR. BALFOUR'S VIEWS. Received June 10, 9.45 p.m. London, June 10. Mr. Balfour (Leader of the Opposition) speaking at the Imperial Press Conference, said the fate of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, and India would not be decided in tile Pacific or the Italian Ocean, but in the northern hemisphere. '• Evvrybody," he continued, " who rends the signs of the times agree., with l.ord Rosebery's and Sir Edward Grey's weighty words, and must recognise the impossibility of look, nig on Hie subject of Imperial defence without anxiety, though not panic." CANADA'S READINESS TO HELP THE

EMPIRE. Mr. Bricrley (Montreal) said that if danger threatened tliu Empire Canada was prepared to spend the last cent and give the last drop of blood to prevent a catastrophe. The results of tlic conference would not be found in the minute-buoks, but in the increased interest in Imperial matters. COLONIES I'KCIKD To ORGANISE THEIR FORCES. Mr. R. Ilaldaiie (Minister for War) agreed with every word uttered byi Mr. Balfour. He urged the colonies to organise their forces in the interest of tlieir own necessities, but also to remember the possible need of co-opera-tion with the Empire. Like Mr. Balfour he felt the burden of the present time. Difficulties were arising which were not accidental, but because other nations were becoming more wealth/ and powerful; but still he believed the Empire's rate of progress. was greater than limt of any other race. NEW ZEALAND'S DREADNOUGHT OFFER. Mr. Geo. Femvick (Dunedin) said tile speeches of the Ministers and exMinisters made the conference historic. The editors had received much inspiration on many points. The spontaneous oiler of Xew Zealand's Drmniionght should not be. measured by its cost; it was a demonstration of ' the patriotic feeling which would help forward all the Empire. He disclaimed disapproving of the action of Canada and Australia over their decision to provide for tlieir own defence, but all must recognise he i said, how inadequate local provision must : be. The safety of the oversea dominions ' lay in the maintenance of a great Imperial navy. Therefore he urged the Press to support it. THE AUSTRALIAN VIEW.

Mr. Cunningham (.Melbourne) Miid it was impossible to get Australians t(» realise that their first efforts must be wholly directed to the Imperial Navy. They should he lirst interested in thenown defenee. A Ideal Xavy would be but a stepping-stom- to ,i n imperial Xavy. lie thought Australia had been treated indulgently in the. past. That was the seeret of the wave of enthusiasm which resulted in the recent offers j of Xew Zealand and the Commonwealth, lie was delighted that the new (iovern-1 ment of the latter had adopted thei people's wishes. Australia was not ready to adopt universal training. Jtl involved many problems. He doubtel the wisdom" of attempting to force, it at the present stage, EXCAAXD'S CHIKF DAXdKIt.

Lord Roberts said the cliief danger to England was it hail enjoyed for so long the supremacy of the seas that its security 071 land was apt to lie regarded as in a safely fixed condition. He believed a new era had commenced that might require the whole of the Empire to justify its existence. » N'othing," he concluded, '• lint forethought and preparation would make us reliable for a great emergency."

U.VIVEISSAL MILITARY TRAININti. Received .lime 1(1, 10.20 p.m. London, .lune 10. Mr. Kink moved a resolution in favor of universal training-. Tile Commonwealth's latest offer was not intended to interfere wit It the provision toy local defence, which should be subordinate to Imperial needs. He believed it was Australia's desire that the nation's manhood should be trained, so that if an emergency arose it could be organised into an effective military entity. OBTAIXIKG KICTTICK ISKSULTS.

Mr. Hark Cohen (l)unedin.) seconded Hie resolution. The colonies spent large sums on education. Surely it was rightful to ask for some return for the money expended on defence. After the ! words of warning from Lord Roberts I and other statesmen before that conference it was useless to take further nolice of the armchair critics who dreaded compulsion. lie advised that T.orl lioherts be sent as a missionary of the Umpire. OIMECTIOV TO THK HeSoIITIOX. Several speakers objected to the resolution as being outside Hie object ot the meeting. The resolution was therefore withdrawn. A PLEA I'OK THE COLONIES. Sir. James 0. Fairfax (Sydney) said! that if the forces overseas undertook an important share in Imperial defence, some steps should be taken to giw theiii a share in the guidance of tliose fores.' Kurt her questions might arise respecting a share in the decisions upon peace or war. Though himself not a militmt fcdi rationist, the points he touched upon ought not to-pa's*'unheeded. FAILURE OF THE VOLVSTARV"

CABLE NEWS (By Cable.—Press Auoci&tlon.«CoDJfright.)

supported it, because lln' voluntary svsteni had uttPriv failed nnel modern warfare required (if a nation g«od military trainin|{. 1,01(1) MAYOU* LUNCHEON'. The l.onl Mayor gave ll > uncfteon t0 the delegates arid a lunidred others.