IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143473, 21 April 1911, Page 3

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS. ft=S4TISFAOTORY ASSURANCE. —Copyright. LONDON, April 20. Mr. W. E. Guinness’ motion in favour 'of adding the discussion of the international situation to the Imperial Conference agenda was withdrawn after Mr. Jlarcourt, Secretary for the Colonies, had promised not to withhold any information that the Prime Ministers desired to have. Mr. Guinness welcomed New Zealand’s proposal for an advisory council as a real step in tho direction of federation. He doubted whether the High Commissioners wore sufficiently closely in touch with colonial opinion. ! Mr. Ormsby Gore, in seconding tho | motion, said that before Australia’s ! resolution regarding naval co-operation i and the status of the Dominion navies I was discussed Sir Edward Grey should instruct the Premiers of tho relation between Britain’s naval policy and tho foreign policy. Mr. Crawshay-Williams urged that ! the existing secretariat should be developed and have a permanent representative on the Advisory Council. The Hon. A. Lyttelton declared that almost the whole strength of the Navy .was concentrated at Home. Contingencies in tho Par East might make it necessary to add a great many battleships in order to protect tho Pacific. It was noteworthy that neither Canada, Australia, nor New Zealand had undertaken to join in all British wars. Mr. Harcourt said it had always been tho Government’s intention to take the ! Prime Ministers into consultation on ■ matters of great Imperial concern. Tho : Government would proffer information I on the condition that it should be treatIcd with absolute screcy. Tho Premiers ■ would also bo asked to attend tho Im- ; perial Defence Committee.