The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1883.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4659, 10 December 1883, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1883.

The labors,of the Annexation Conference in Sydney have ceased, and it is with some degree of satisfaction that we can contemplate the result. The greatest unanimity prevailed amongst the assembled representatives from first to last, and that each of their important actions was the result of such'unanimous agreement will lend additional strength to the resolutions arrived at. Sections of the most important portion of the English Press are loud in their praises of the work done by the Conference, and leading papers go so far as to say thai; the actionori the part of the colonies will " force the British hand," and that the Secretary of State cannot ignore the resolutions arrived at. Coming from such sources these expressions are somewhat ominous, and although certain allowances may be made for: the Conservative journals, who very naturally desire to enlarge upon the injudiciousness of Lord Derby in paying so small an amount of attention to colonial interests, a careful reader .and observer of the position cannot but see that while the refusal of England to act in accordance) with the recom mendations and resolutions of the Conference wpuld* be inimical to colonial interests, it would be also fraught with serious danger to the Mother Country. It cannot be supposed that thechild neglected by i(s parent will not-*having an instinctive notion of self-preservation—sbow a regard for its own prpteclion.nor would it be likely that a discarded offspring should seek to promote any but its own interests. The colonies have been remunerative to England, and the protection afforded by the parent country would have been, doubtless, at our command in all times of need, but we hare been fortunate enough to do without it. We might nofc hare experienced this immunity from danger bad we not'been appended to great Britain;' but having accepted the responsibility the British Government's duties do not end with that acceptance. It can hardly Lave been philanthropy alona which exer cjsed the minds of those polititians

who desired tbe possession of the colonies, with all tbe advantages and wealth they possess ; or that philantrophy would be extended to their welfare, when their purity, from a colonising point of view, is threatened. We have no notion of separation from that Old Land Jto which we owe so much, hufc we must insist on a quid ■pro quo even in a mild way, and go so far almost, as to insist on our being granted that.which we ask, and are willing to contribute towards the payment of. The annexation of certain islands contiguous to Australia and our own colony is deemed necessary for the welfare of all, and in the event of that not taking place, a danger exists in the shape of foreign annexation and a threatened invasion of convicts. This must be averted, and this is the main object of the Conference which has just | closed its session. This we must have, I and no means should be neglected in obtaining it. Another movement of the assembly in Sydney is in the direction of Colonial Federation, and this we shall deal with ia the future. . . i