THE EMPIRE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10247, 25 May 1911, Page 5

THE EMPIRE

CABLE NEWS

United Press Association— -By Mectrie Telegraph — Copyright.

OPENING OF CONFERENCE.

NOTABLE SPEECHES.

(Received Last Night, 9.25 o'clock.)

LONDON, May 24,

The Right Hon. H. H. Asquith, speaking at the Imperial Conference, said that it was a happy coincidence that the time chosen for the Conference would enable the statesmen of the self-governing Dominions to take a personal part in the Coronation festivities. The Empire, he said, was not made up of countries geographically co-terminous, or even contiguous. It did not even draw its unifying, cohesive force solely from the identity of race or language. They had here a political organisation which, by itsmere existence, ruled out the possibility of war between populations numbering something like a third of the human race. There were two things in the self-governing BritishEmpire which were unique in ihehlstory of the great political aggregation. The first was the reign of law, and the second, the combination of local autonomy absolute and unfettered, with loyalty to a common head. In the early Victorian era there were two rough and ready solutions of the colonial problem. One was centralisation, or Government f-rom Downing Street, and the other disintegration, by which each community, as it grew to manhood, would, without embitterment, start an independent existence. After seventy years of Imperial evolution, neither theories commanded the ' faintest support in any part of the Empire. Now each intended to remain the master of his own household. They would remain units, but units in a greater unity. MR ANDREW FISHER. Mr Andrew Fisher, Prime Minister jof the Australian Commonwealth, J said he came to the Conference as a | whole-hearted advocate of that Con- ! ferenoe. A gain would, he said, accrue j if they could_ meet, not only in the ! centre of the Empire, but in' centres I in the other Dominions. He earnestly J appealed to Mr Asquith to take some > strong remedy, the grave abuse affecting the commerce of ishe Empire and other countries- in the shape of the exorbitant Suez Canal charges. He also hoped £he Governj ment would afford the Dommionsamore expeditious access to the trade reports from every part of the world. Referring to the-defence scheme, be said Australia desired to help in the preservation of the honor and greatness of the Mother Country. It would cheerfully co-operate with the Mother Shores. The Commonwealth desired to be of assistance in any movement that that would ehape for Industrial Arbitration and preserve the peace of the world. . SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Sir Joseph Ward eulogised the late Mr Campbell-Bannerman's initiatory work, which had resulted in the consolidation of South Africa, which meant the preserving of local antonomy. It was essential to make a step forward if they ( wished to prevent the rise of disintegration. He recognised.the necessity for elasticity jr matters which might be the outcome of the Conference.

GENERAL BOTHA. General Botha said he was gratified, while participating in the Conference, to bo able to sav that in South Africa, where there had been so much discord, and where so much blood had flown, concord and harmony now reigned. They were inspired with hope and courage for the future.

PUBLICITY. Sir Joseph Ward, in moving for the I admission of the Press to the Conference, referred to the difficulty of obtaining information .-. concerning the last Conference —a difficulty which the Press.was unable to-control. Sir "Wilfrid Laurier said the last Conference arrangements were satisfactory. , The people of New Zealand were as well-informed as tho people of London and Canada. If the Press was admitted, the deliberations would assume a public discussion. It was nee- » essary to preserve privacy and publish the results and not the differences of opinion. Mr Fisher sympathised with the resolution, but said if the Press withdrew when a particular subject was discussed public attention would l>e markedly drawn to it. He suggested that confidential subjects be separated. General Botha opposed the motion. The Right. Hon. H. H. Asquith suggested that Sir Joseph Ward should not press the motion. Be appreciated the reasons given for publicity, but said it must be remembered that the Conference did not partake of the nature of a public meeting. Its usefulness would be impaired if questions were not discussed freely. The occasional exclusion of the Press would excite curiosity. Pictures would be drawn of conflicts within the Conference. Sir Joseph Ward said that, in view of the opinions expressed, he saw n6 chance of carrying his motion, and lie therefore withdrew it. NAVAL AND MILITARY MATTERS Mr Asquith explained that naval and military matters would be discussed by the Committee of Imperial Defences, where they, would have the advantage of experts' advice. It would also probably be desirable not ! to bring other technical subjects beforo 'the Conference until they had been discussed bv the Overseas representatives and Imperial Departments concerned. MR ASQUITH'S SPEECH. (Received Last Niirht. 10.30 o'clock.) LONDON, May 24. Tn the course of his speech. Mr Asquith said there were proposals on the agenda paper aiming at some closer political union in the shape nf an Advisorv Council. Without offering an ooinion ho ventured to observe that they must, not lose siubt of the value of elasticity and flexibility in the Imneriol organisation. He trusted that the Tmtxn-ial Government would be able to offer acceptable suggestions in rera rd to the oonstiution of the Colonial,' Office, which would mean the i segregation and concentration of work

appropriate to the Dominions from the other work of the Department. He referred to the far-reaching results of the last Defence Conference and the inauguration of the Canadian and Australian fleets, giving further impetus to the spirit of self-reliance. It was highly desirable to take stock together of the possible risks and dagners to which they were exposed in common, and to weigh carefully and adequately the reciprocal adaptiveness of the contributions they were making, and to provide for it. He believed there was throughout the conference one spirit and one purpose, and that was to make the Empire and all its parts more complete and effective instrument in the furtherance of liberty. SIR WILFRID LAURIER. Sir Wilfrid Laurier said they might claim that the work of the last Conference was productive of material, even important results. He represented a country which had no grievances and very few suggestions to make. They were satisfied with their lot, and approached their colleagues' suggestions with an open mind. He recognised the truth of the principal that the British Empire can only live by Imperial unity based on local anton • omy.