The Daily News. THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 1917. TEH IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 January 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 1917. TEH IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

With the advent of Mr. Lloyd George to the Premiership of Britain the project of holding an Imperial Conference has materialised. .Even those hypercritical personages who fail to discover the immediate practical purpose of such a gathering are bound to admit that it is both necessary and timely. The farseeing statesmanship of Sir Joseph Ward, when he first outlined his proposed Council of Empire, has at last been fully vindicated, though it has required the greatest war in the world's history to bring home to the statesmen of the Motherland and some of the Dominions that the old conservative tenets must give way to modern requirements. Hitherto the bonds which have united the units of the Empire with the Old Country have largely been sentimental, but the war has solidified and welded the links into a perfect chain of unityunity of purpose, of aim, of policy, and of economic necessity—so that we may fairly assume that the foundations of Imperial unity have been well and truly /aid, and that the pieeing together of the superstructure on harmonious lines is the work that has now to be undertaken. Those of the Premiers of the Dominions who have visited Britain since the war commenced have made it perfectly clear that tho time has arrived for a Council of Empire in which the Dominions should have a voice on all matter? in which they are concerned, and especially on such a vital question as that of entering upon a war. That the forthcoming Conference will be an epoch-making event may be taken for granted. It will mark a new departure in the Empire's affairs that will proclaim to the world, in no uncertain manner, that henceforth Greater Britain will be a reality as a solid Power, and the in elusion of India in the Council will give it an added importance and immeasurable weight. While the rights and privileges of the self-governed Dominions will remain unaltered, ,the Imperial Council will speak and act for the whole Empire. That there are difficult problems to solve, before the powers and constitution of (he Council are settled will not prevent a satisfactory agreement being arrived at. In reality the only matter that may cause trouble is that relating to fiscal policy, the most thorny question in British polities in the past, but the after-war economic campaign, which is now taken for granted, demands the surrender of ancient tenets and prejudices if the object in view is to be accomplished. It is quite immaterial whether the. Council is designated by one name or another, the important factor being that there shall exist a permanent Council for the ordering of Imperial affairs by representatives of the Motherland and the Dominions. There is no desire on the part of the Dominions to interfere in British affairs, nor for the British Government to meddle with matters concerning the administration of the Dominions. For the safe and successful conduct of Imperial affairs it is essential that the units of the Empire should have their views considered. In these days the cable lias brought the ends of the world together, so that any momentous issue could be directly referred to the .Dominions Governments, if necessary/and dealt with in a few hour a...Such not,

except at a crisis, be necessary, for (lie representatives on the Council should only be statesmen in whom the people of the various Dominions have perfect confidence. We now entrust our affairs to a Cabinet, the presiding member of which is recognised as the, mouthpiece of the country,| so that with equal confidence we could trust our representative on the Imperial Council to act in our best interests. Tin. dominant object of the Council will be that of co-ordinating the views of the Dominions on nil matters of policy connected with Imperial affairs. It is obvious that the question of the Dominions' contributions to the Navy, in money or ships, should be settled, and in connection with this matter may arise the far larger problem of the advisability of the Imperial Navy acting as an international maritime police patrol, and thus eliminate the need for the existence of any other navy. The British Empire alone could bo entrusted with .such a responsible work, and a& it may be assumed that the Allies will insist on the dispersion of the German navv. this policing question will probably have to be settled by international agreement. The organisation of trade and industry, the prevention of strikes, the control of emigration and the fostering of trade within the Empire are some of the subject? demand ; ing attention. There is no question that the forthcoming Conference will be of vital moment to the Empire We do not expect it will perform miracles, but now that the time is ripe for drawing together in Council the leading statesmen of Greater Britain, the opportunity for the creation of a permanent Federal Council is one that should be embraced and utilised to the fullest extent. The sacrifices the Dominions have willingly made augur well for the success of the Conference and the future security and progress of the Dominions. It is also within the bounds of possibility that the Council of Empire may be utilised in a mediatory capacity much in the, same way as the Hague Convention, but that is a matter for ti'ie. future. Meanwhile we may rest assured that the step which Mr. Lloyd George, lias taken is pregnant with possibilities of the utmost import to the future of the great Empire to which we belong, and we may justly anticipate that the labors of the Conference will tend to increase the influence of Britain in upholding the rights of nations and securing a lasting peace.