IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1926, Page 9

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

NOT A ONE-MAN SHO W

TRIBUTE TO MR. COATES

BRITISH MINISTERS’ VIEWS

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright London, Nov. 26.

The Conference has not been a oneman show; there was no outstanding figure, such as Chamberlain or Deakin. On the contrary, it was a team of which each member pulled his full weight, Mr. Coates equally with the others,” said the Hon. L. C. M. S. Amery (Secretary for the Dominions), when presiding at a British Empire League luncheon in honoui- of Mr. Coates, to whom he paid a warm tribute. Mr. Amery added that Mr. Coates was the successoi- to a line of Prime Ministers, notably Mr. Massey, whose traditions were always Imperial, whose word was always their bond, who on all the great issues of the Empire stood side by side with this country, and who were prepared to give the best brains, money and blood for the ideals of the Empire. Mr. Amery proceeded to say that Mr. Coates had won the highest regard, affection and esteem of his fellow members of the Conference.

Mr. Coates, responding, said that New Zealand was ever ready to help the Empire. He had found the Conference was practically constituted of one Imperial mind, not disputations, not differing in opinions where grave Imperial issues were concerned. We always regarded ourselves as autonomous members of the Empire; nevertheless, we never forgot our indebtedness for protection by the British flag. New Zealand knew where she stood—that was alongside the Mother Country. He paid a tribute to the British Ministers’ contributions to the Conference diseussiuns. The result of the British and Dominions’ co-operation was a gentleman’s agreement of which every member of the Conference was proud. Earl Jellicoe- proposed Mr. Amery’s health, saying that his statesmanlike vision had ensured the success of the Conference. FAREWELL LUNCHEON. MESSAGE FROM THE KING. Received Nov. 28, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 26. Two hundred persons, including members of the Cabinet, enthusiastically farewelled the Dominion Prime Ministers at an Empire Parliamentary Association dinner at the House of Lords. Mr. Stanley Baldwin presided, and read His Majesty’s reply to the conference’s address as follows: —“The Queen and I warmly thank the members of the conference for their expression of fidelity and devotion. I followed with the closest interest the conference’s proceedings and am convinced that the leaders afforded the Empire and the world a better understanding and a clearer conviction of what the Empire means. It has given me the utmost satisfaction to greet so many of my Ministers from the Dominions and learning personally from them the problems and aspirations of my peoples overseas. The Queen and I treasure recollections of visits to these lands as among the happiest of our lives. We wish the members of the conference Godspeed and a safe return.” Mr. Baldwin, toasting the overseas visitors, said: “The coming of the conference this autumn has been the happi. est thing that could have happened to England. We have been refreshed by the breath of optimism which the Dominion representatives brought. They have heartened future endeavours by the knowledge that they are striving in all corners of the world, inspired by the same ideals. Earl Balfour’s reputation has been increased by his association with the historic report of the committee on inter-imperial relations, which simply acknowledges that the Dominions have reached their manhood and are fit to take up manhood’s responsibilities. Our aims have been to stress co-operation and not independence; defence and not conquest.” Mr. Coates said that every delegate left the conference with feelings of entire satisfaction. It was not so much what was said or written as the personal contact between the members. This was the strongest influence of the conference. He emphasised that each Dominion had equal rights and statue. They freely associated one with another, and furthermore, each now understood the other’s viewpoint, which was most valuable.