IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 July 1918, Page 2

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

1 SUMMARY. OiP T'lHi SOSIE DrPPORTMT' DEOISIOm By Telegrapir.-—Press Association. WeUiugion,, July 29. The Covcrnor-G'encral. iifl/s received tlie following jmmmary of tilie: ■proceedings, of fclio Imperial Wiar Conference- (luring; weftk entied July 27 from the Secretary of State for the Colonies:-

The fourteenth.meeting of the Imperial' War Conference was hold on July 22. The Conference; first ;l, at the instance of the Govei s Sii, c irfi~ of Canada, various problems reßtfgctffliS tfemoMlisation, particularly connected with thetransportation. /Ultimately on the suggestion of the War Office representatives a resolationi passed' agreeing, I hat an advisory and executive commit-, tee to< bo known as "The Military "Demobilisation. Committee of the British' Empire" should, set up- forthwith. This; committee will, consist of representative?, of the military authorities of the Dominions. anil the colonies and' represent tatives of til® War Office, the Indian; Office and' Ministry of the- Shipping of' the United! Kingdom, under the chairmanslup of the Secretary of State and' i War or a deputy appointed by him.. The. committee will consider all military quesjtiona: of demobilisation! affecting- the' var.ions governments; concerned',.and' willjarrage'for the fullest interchange of information regarding the plans for demobilisati'oni, and will submit, a question; of the principles arising- from time to time to the governments concerned'. The committee will sit prior tm the general id'eiaohilisati'on- at sutfli times as the ■ chairman: may- consider necessary and ■during- demobdldsaiton as frequently as may bo necessary to secure complete co-ordination of demoM'isaiion procedure by the governments concerned. DEVELOPMENT' OF PEEROIiEUM.

The Conference next dealt with the question of petroleum, and considered .* memorandum prepared by Lord Harcourt setting out tho importance of the development of adequate supplies of petroleum for the British Empire. The Conference passed a resolution recommending Hie suggestions contained in Lord Harcourt'i., memorandum to the serious consideration of tlie- governments concerned in. view of the great, and growing importance of petroleum and its products for naval, military and' industrial purposes.

XSTDRALBSATDON. Tlio remainder of the discussions at this sitting concerned the naturalisation, and at the instance of the Prime Minister of Now Zealand the Conference passed a resolution stating it was of opinion tlmt the majority of members that legislation should he passed throughout the TC-mpire restricting for a period after tne war, so for as in circumstances cf- each country may he possible, the naturalisation of citizen's of present enemy countries and also tlio acquisition "by them of any form of political rights or land •>r mimn<r privileges. The representatives of Canada abstained from voting and the South African; representative recorded dissent..

Before- leaving the subject of naturalisation, the Conference passed a further resolution, recommending a special conference of representatives of all parts of tme Empire should ho held' at the earliest practicable date- to examijie and report on any question connected with t'le nat ionality or naturalisation which any government represented at such special, conference may desire raised, and upon any suggestions which may make for amendment of the existing law. This conference will' prdba'blv ho convened' next week, so- overseas representatives may have an opportunity of attending before leaving, the United' Kingdom.

ETOIA ANT} THE" DOMINIONS. The fifteenth nieoting of the Conference- was held' on July 24th. The first ■ subject discussed was reciprocity- 'Of treatment between India and the Damiiir ions. This, discussion followed on. a resolution passed by the Conference lastyear, accepting the principle of. reciprocity and a further resolution was passed' that effect should now bo given to last year's- resolution, in pursuance' of which the Conference agreed as follows: (.1) It is the inherent function of the governments of the several committees of the British Commonwealth, including India, that each should enjoy complete control over the composition, of its own population by means of restriction on immigration from any other communities; (3) British citizens domiciled in any other British country for visits for the purpose of pleasure or commerce, including temporary residence for purpose of education. The conditions of such visits should be regulated on the principle of reciprocity as follows: (A)' The right -of tho Government of'lndia is recognised to enact laws which shall have the effect of subjecting British citizens dtomidiled in anyother British country to the same conditions in visiting India as those imposed on Indians desiringtoniisitsndbeountrv: (B) Such right of visit, or temporary resilience shall in each individual case be embodied in a passport- or a. written permit issued by the country of domicile-jand subject to vise there 'by an oliiccr appointed by and acting on behalf af the country to be visited if such country so desires; (C) Such right shall not extend to a visit or temporary residence for labor purposes or to permanent settlement; (3) Indians already permanently domiciled in other Britiso countries should he allowed to bring in their wives, and minor children on condition (a) that not more thaivone wife and her children shall be admitted for such Indian, and (s>) that each individual so admitted, shall be certified by the Government of India as being the lawful wife or child of such Indian; (4) the Conference recommends other questions covered by memoranda presented ■this year and last year to the Conference bv the representatives of India insofar that they are not dealt with the foregoing ■paragraphs of this resolution to.the various governments concerned with a view of early consideration.

IMPERIAL COURT OF APPEAL®te remainder of the subjects daalt with at this meeting axe confidential, except that discussion on the question of an Imperial Court of Appeal was continned and again adjourned. The sixteenth meeting was iheld on ,Tilly 26, when a discussion as to an Imperial Court of Aippcsii wad completed and a resolution pwssc.d storting ifcSho Conforcncc is of opini-on (1) that the question of replacing the present dual system

of appeal.by the constitution of one Imperial Court pf Appeal demtin<is prompt : consideration of His Majesty's Government, (2) that tlie Lord Chancellor should be invited to prepare und circulate to the Governments of the Dominions and India as soon as possible a memorandum containing' such proposals 'as. in the opinion, of His Majesty's, Goi vernment will be practical for the purpose with a view to a decision by the jnext Imperial Conference; (3) that leach such Government as soon as pos'siblo thereafter shall communicate to .the Government of the United. Kingdom ;its views with regard to such proposals. COXTlta, OP RAW MATERIAL V

Tho Conference next considered a'report of a special committee appointed ;at an earlier meeting to consider'questions arising regarding the control of. raw .materials after the war, the Conference approved- of this report and passed'a.reflolution requesting His Majesty's .-.Go* .vernment to communicate it forthwith |to Governments of the Dominions ana j lndia, land ascertain their views as.to .appropriate action to be. taken. ■•Tk« (Conference further agreed •; that steps (should now bo .taken to ascertain tlie needs and resources of the Allien in respect of raw materials specified in the Iroipor.t : <•.■■■■

• SHIRPMG COMIIUMOATIOXfi. The Conference next considered agaiii .questions regarding shipping commiifiiication.-. In the light of the report of the | committee appointed to consider ifchis question, the Conference agreed 'that shipping on the principal routes, especially between the heart of the Empire and the Oversea Dominions, including India, should be brought under review by am inter-Imperial Board, on which the United Kingdom and British Dominions and dependencies should be represented. Tho Conference recommended that for this purpose an Imperial investigation, board should be appointed representing various parts of the Empire to enquire and report on all matters connected with ocean freights and facilities and matters connected with the development and improvement of sea communications between the different parts of the Empire with special reference to the size and type of ships and capacities of harbors, the board to include, in addition to representatives of the Governments concerned, persons with expert knowledge of problems involved, including representatives of shipping and trading interests. The proceedings of. the Conference terminated with a resolution moved by the Prime Minister of Canada, and seconded by tho Prime Minister of Australia, conveying to the Secretary of State for the Colonies the appreciation of the Dominions for his labors in preparing for and presiding over the Conference. This resolution recorded alsp the gratitude of the Overseas .representatives for ■the many courtesies received from the Prime Minister and other members of His Majesty's Government and the hospitality extended to them by the Government and people of the United Kingdom.

After tlio Conference proceedings terminated members proceeded to Buckingham Palace, where a resolution of loyalty was presented to His Majesty, who was graciously pleased to reply. The purport resolution and text cf His Majesty's reply have been telegraphed separately by Reuj;er's.