THE PREMIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 June 1921, Page 5

THE PREMIERS.

CONFERENCE OPENS. MR. LLOYD GEORGE’S SPEECH. AN IMPORTANT ADDRESS. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received June 21, 12.35 a.m. London, June 20. The Premiers’ Conference opened at noon, all the Premiers attending. Mr. Lloyd George has recovered, and he addressed the delegates at lengt>. The address was one of historic and far-reach-ing importance. Mr. Lloyd George was accompanied by Lord. Curzon (Secretary for Foreign Affairs), Mr. A. J. Balfour (Lord President of the Council), Mr. Austen Chamberlain (Leader of the House of Commons), the Hon. E. S. Montagu (Secretary for India) and Mr. Winston Churchill (Secretary for the Colonies). —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT. NO CHANGE IN PRESENT SYSTEM. INDEPENDENCE OF DOMINIONS. Received June 20, 5.5 p.m. London, June 19. Lord Milner, interviewed by the Daily Telegraph, stated: “So far as I can judge, some Dominion Premiers have an idea that an attempt will be made at the forthcoming conference' to propose a new system of Imperial government which may affect the independence of several States. There is no intention of that kind here, and it was emphasised in the invitations that tlft conference was not designed to discuss constitutional relations, but immediate practical problems.

“The times are not rip 6 for the former purposes. We must do our best with the existing means, and there is nothing better than that the heads of thp Empire States should meet for discussion apd endeavor to carry out a common policy so far as it is found to exist. The heads for the time being are able to judge how far they can go with certainty that their action will be endorsed by their people.” Lord Milner added that London was the most convenient place for such a meeting, but he hoped the time was coming when a meeting would be possible in other Empire capitals. It was true it had been already suggested that a constitutional conference be held at Ottawa, but such a conference may be protracted, involving a series of meetings at more than one capital.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.