The Balkans

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 175, 2 January 1915, Page 5

The Balkans

ROUMANIANS RETALIATE. FIGHTING IN MOUNTAINOUS COUNTRY. Bucharest, December 31. The Roumanians in the Abried Mountains, Transylvania, have risen against the Magyars, who systematically exposed the Roumanians to the severest Russian fire, and also ill-treated the Roumanian population. IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. «n* THE EMPIRE'S OUTPOSTS. MAGNIFICENT RESPONSE FULLY APPRECIATED. IMPERIAL CONFERENCE SUGGESTED FOR THIS YEAR. Received 1, 12.40 a.m. [London, December 31. By Cable —Press Association —Copyright. The Times, referring to Hon. Andrew Fisher's visit to New Zealand, and the Dominion's magnificent response to Britain's call, declares that the morale of the last five months is that the spirit of our people has over-ridden the defects of our organisation, and adds that "although the need of a solution of Imperial problems is momentarily obscured, it will emerge when the stress of war is relaxed, and will be more imperative than ever. There is no reason why the Imperial Conference should not meet in 1015. It would thus set the seal of unity upon the Empire already so remarkably demonstrated, and show the world that British people in the midst of war can prepare themselves for new works of peace." AUSTRALIAN PREMIER'S VIEWS. By Telegraph.—Per Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. The suggestion made by the London Times with reference to Mr Fisher's visit to New Zealand and the holding of an Imperial Conference this year was referred to by the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth to-night. "I think the London Times is right in the attitude it takes up, and in the opinion it lias so clearly expressed," said Mr Fisher. "Many of our difficulties have arisen from the. want of opportunities for the meeting of representatives of the Dominions and the Mother Country. Canada stands in a different position to most of the other Dominions, since she is in such close proximity to the Mother Countrv, and can easily communicate with tlie Government there at any time on and matter in which difficulty arises. That is not possible in this portion of the world, and the gravest issues can only be dealt with by cable or by despatches which arrive not before a month has elapsed. In my opinion a conference during this year would be of more value to all parties concerned than any that lias yet been held. It would afford to the world evidence of a fact too little known that all parts of the British Empire, even whilst at war, pan meet together and discuss a critical situation in as calm and deliberate a manner as if it were lot engaged in any great war at all. I have not changed my views as to tlie necessity of one or more of IBs Majesty's Ministers in Great Britain paying an official visit to His most distant Dominions. I hope that plia:ie of the matter will not be lost sight of, even at this critical juncture. If the holding of a conference be not possible, 1 am in favour of Imperial conferences being held every two years, because I think our strength lies in getting into the. closest possible, touch with each other. In persona! eonsulations and deliberations by these means the ties of unity will be strengthened to a greater extent than by any other method I can suggest.'? ' .^Maais^^.