THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Temuka Leader, Issue 1605, 9 July 1887, Page 1

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Melbourne, July 6. In the Legislative Assembly this afternoon, Mr Deakin, Chief Secretary, in his statement regarding the Imperial Conference, emphasised the fact that the delegates had done nothing in any way to bind colonial Parliaments. They were there purely as a consultative body. One principal result of the conference was that much better terms were obtained from the Imperial Government in regard to strengthening the Australian Squadron than would otherwise have bren possible. He referred to the ignorance of the English statesmen and the Press as to the real feeling of the colonies, inasmuch as they were surprised to hear that the people of Australia really objected to the French occupation of the New Hebrides and the deportation of criminals to the Pacific. The delegates told the Imperial Government that the colonies thought it so serious a matter that they were ready to assume all the,expense and responsibility of enforcing their views, if permitted, the Imperial Government gave an assurance of its desire to meet their views, but the delegates, remembering the New Guinea fiasco , had stated their unbelief in the assurances of the Foreign Office, Mr Deakin concluded by declaring that the conference had opened widespread interest in Australian matters.