THE GREAT CONFERENCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 308, 23 May 1911, Page 5

THE GREAT CONFERENCE

—. ♦ RETROSPECT OF THE PERSONALITIES. "NO GREAT EXPERIMENTS.' By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received 23, 12.10 a.m. London, May 22. The Daily Telegraph, in a leading article giving a retrospect of the personalities at past and present Imperial Conferences, says Sir Wilfrid Lauricr will renew his friendships. The nation will find Sir Joseph Ward still speaking manfully and sturdily for the smallest hut perhaps the most enthusiastic and intensely British of all the dominions. General Botha, representing a United South Africa, and Mr. A. Fisher are newcomers, and because the latter is new and the head of the Labor Party which won such a sweeping victory at the last elections he will be a great curiosity. "We will see how he ranges himself among his brother Premiers, but it is certain his Imperialism is no less sincere than Mr. Deakin's, ■even if his methods are different."

After mentioning Newfoundland, the paper adds: "All the members of the Conference will be equally welcomed by the people of t.lie Motherland. They come eager to do their best for their countries and the Empire alike, tut everything points to the prospect that there will be no great experiments, -and the Imperial framework will remain much the same after the Conference as now. Full and free discussion of Sir Joseph Ward's and other dominions' proposals should, however, be most informative, enabling the nation to judge of the prospects of an early or ultimate agreement on great problems. It is encouraging to see the Imperial Government proposing 6o discussion labor exchanges, etc., with the dominions. In the meantime, all Imperialists, irrespective of party, earnestly hope that the Conference will advance smoothly and successfully with a prosperous issue." GUESTS OF THE KING. Received 2.1, 1 a.m. London, May 22.

There were sixty guests at King George's luncheon to the Premiers today. Mr Asquith to-night entertains 'the delegates to dinner, while their ladies will be Earl Grahdard's guests. A reception at the Foreign Office follows.