IMPERIAL COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 288, 29 April 1911, Page 5

IMPERIAL COUNCIL.

MEMORIAL PRESENTED TO BRITISH PREMIER.

A NON-PARTY PETITION.

By Cable—Press Association—Copyright Received 28, 11.5 p.m. London, April 28.

Mr. J. N. Griffiths, in introducing a deputation to the House of Commons, which presented Mr. Asquith with a memorial, bearing 300 signatures, in favor of an Imperial Council, remarked that these included advanced Conservatives and Socialists. Its aim was to place the question of Imperial unity outside the zone of party politics. If Mr. Asquith gave a definite lead he would be astonished at the enthusiasm of his action would provoke in all parte of the Empire.

A GROWING SENTIMENT. Mr. Crawahay-Williams emphasised the growing sentiment regarding the necessity for machinery for bringing the dominions into closer touch with those Imperial affairs which at present were mainly the Motherland's care, albeit affecting the Empire as a whole. Several methods of achieving closer co-operation were advocated, hence it would be a mistake to assume a dogmatic tone or to force upon the public a cut-and-dricd plan. There could scarcely be any doubt that any attempt on the part of his Majesty's Government to do so would have a considerable effect in sustaining and strengthening the Imperial sentiment in all parts of the Empire, and gratify a large body of opinion in Great Britain which was ready to welcome any constitutional and reasonable method of facilitating the co-operation of British democracies. PRACTICAL, SPEEDY ACTION DESIRED.

Mr. A. Hammersley remarked that he was convinced from a number of years' residence in different parts of the Empide'that the suggestion embodied in the memorial would have the hearty approval of the vast majority of their fellowsubjects in the dominions, who earnestly desired practieal and speedy action tending to promote the Empire's consolidation without interfering with the autonomy of the self-governing dominions. MR. ASQUITH'S SYMPATHETIC REPLY.

Mr. Asquith, in reply, expressed his appreciation of the importance of the signatures appended to the memorial, which was more variously supported than any he could remember to have seen in the course of his career. He wovVl have pleasure in bringing the memoria' 'iefore the Imperial Conference on the <■ -ision of the discussion-raised by New Zealand's resolution. He promised to make the Conference fully acquainted with the significance of the signatures. Naturally, nothing of a practical nature was feasible in the direction of the suggestion in the memorial without the fullest concurrence and consent of the overseas dominions.

The deputation acknowledged the sympathetic manner in which it had been received.