SIR JOSEPH WARD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 50, 21 August 1911, Page 5

SIR JOSEPH WARD

PREMIER ARRIVES IN SYDNEY. INTERVIEWKDON THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. By Cable—Preas Association—Copyright. Received 20, 5 p.m. Sydney, August 20/ Sir J. fi. Ward arrived by the Rua« pehu, Ho stated that the recent In>. pertel Conference completes the tenth conference he has attended, <utd he agreed with Mr. Asquith that the results of the last conference, both ia quantity and general benefit to 4jh« Empire, were of a most solid and en. during kind, first «a regards matter* [ touching on international relations witb the Empire, and second in regard to matters touching on international relations. V The chief among the former is the uo> dcrtaking of the Imperial authorities that hereafter no international Agreement will be entered into which affecti the oversea dominions without a conference or consultation with the ions affected. This will obviate a good deal of heartburning that has been f«. quent in the paat, occasioned by the Imperial Government completing an agreement vitally affecting the over»e» dominions without reference to these dominions. The prevailing practice on the part of the Home Government now ia to strictly limit all its international treaties to the United Kingdom, unless the oversee dominions desire inclusion, and this undertaking on the'jmit <lTWfr' British Government to obtain release from existing commercial treaties of any dominions desiring freedom, Is a concession to the autonomy of all the selfgoverning countries of the Empire. During the discussion on the proposed creation of a final Imperial Court pi Appeal Mr. Asquith admitted the dominions lmd well founded reasons for complaint. The Imperial Government has now undertaken, at his that resolutions submitted by Sir J. G. Ward to alter the constitution and procedure of the existing Court of An- 1 peal for the overseas Empire, to be m two divisions, the one to hear appeals from the United Kingdom, and the other from the overseas dominions. The Privy Council is to be strengthened by the addition of two of the ablest English judges, and the procedure is to be assimilated to that of the House of Lords.

Another long stride towards Imperial unity was the agreement arrived at unanimously in respect to Imperial naturalisation, in the past the most striking anomalies have existed. Those naturalised in New Zealand or in Canada, for instance, while British subject* within these dominions, were aliens in any other part of the Empire. The utmost diversity prevails between the two dominions.

It is significant of the extent to which the people of the United Kingdom desiro closer Imperial unity, that over 300 members of the House of Commons, representative not of one party but of all parties, memorialised Mr. Asquith to promote a closer association of the oversea dominions with the Imperial Government in control of great Imperial interests, particularly defence, and to do this by means of a Council really representative of all parts of the Empire. Tin's memorial was consequent upon a resolution tabled by Sir J. G. Ward for discussion at the conference.

"In submitting the motion," said Sir Joseph, "1 never contemplated the possibility of its being agreed to, as en organised system. It only sought the affirmation of a principle, and as a matter of fact the principle underlying tile motion was affirmed." Mr. Asquith declared, on the part of the British Government, that it was in the fullest sympathy with any practical means for bringing the oversea dominions into closer union with the Motherland, and the sentiment was repeated by (various oversea representatives, notably General Botha. Subsequent discussions'upon Imperial defence, which, owing to the necessity for secrecy, I cannot disclose, satisfy, me beyond doubt that effective co-operation for defence of%he Empire cannot be secured without the adoption in some shape of the principle of Imperial unity I advocated. It is generally recognised, while there may be several navies in the Empire, there cannot, for effective purposes of Imperial defence, be more than one Imperial naval defence policy. Recognising that the best results of the one policy is one great Empire navy. T have, alwavs advocated as New Zealand's contribution to the navy, a money grant, on condition that the ocean highways should be fully safeguarded, us well as the shores of the different dominions.

The Imperial Conference's proposed appointment of an Empire Commission, with representatives on it from the Motherland and oversea dominions, is a very valuable and important one. Such a commission, if men of wide experience and knowledge are appointed, must be ablo to obtain evidence that will enable nil concerned, to improve the trade relationships existing throughout the Empire. Necessarily such a commission cannot interfere with the fiscal policy of a. portion of- the Empire, but with ever increasing efforts to secure trade by foreign countries, it is all important that nothing should be left undone by the respective British countries to improve the conditions of the vast and increasing trade between themselves. Summed up, all must, agree with Mr. Asqmth that the results of the recent conference had been very solid and practical, and that none of these could have been attained rapidly or effectively except by the means of discussion which took place, and the decisions arrived at at the Conference in London. Sir J. (J. Ward's attention was drawn to the endeavors of Mr. Fisher, while in London, to have the British possessions m the Pacific placed under Australian control. Sir Joseph would make no statement, preferring to preserve a neutral attitude.

When twenty days out from Marseilles Sir Joseph received a wireless message as to the rumor of handing over lfl.niti to Germany in connection with the Moroccan trouble, and he wired contending it would be against the best in. teresrs of the British community in the Pacific. He was glad to hear it'was not true.

Sir J. G. Ward left earlv on Sunday for New Zealand.