GENERAL CABLES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10264, 16 June 1911, Page 3

GENERAL CABLES.

United Press Association —~>v Electric

Telegraph—Copy l

IMPERIAL FEDERATION

INTERESTING ADDRESSES

(Received June 15. 8 35 a.m.)

LONDON, Jur.c 14

Lord Selborne presided, and Sir . Joseph Ward delivered an address at the Royal Geological Institute, on the higher and truer Imperialism. Sir Joseph Ward made an urgent plea for an Imperial Council. Some day, he said, it would be impossible for Great Britain alone to maintain her majestic supremacy of the seas. The Dominions equally would be unable wholly to defend themselves from foreign aggression. Lord Selborne said we must be prepared to see the centre of. gravity of the Empire pass from the United Kingdom to some other part of the Empire. While Englishmen felt not quite free to discuss the problem of federation, he would assert that when the statesmen of the Overseas Dominions were prepared to present a ] practical scheme, many Britishers ] would in turn be prepared to give } their political lives to support it. j The Westminster Gazette states that the one decisive answer to Sir Joseph Ward's fears of disintegration, unless closer unity in the governing institutions of the Empire is effected, is to be found in the fact that as long as Britain is strong enough at sea to prevent the enemy attacking the Dominions, none of the questions likely to conduce to disintegration will arise. , _. J

Therefore, the question of the navy I forms the Alpha and Omega of British policy. The "Pall Mall Gazette" strongly supports Sir Joseph Ward's contention that if there is no closer Council of Empire than a gathering of the Overseas Premiers once every four years, the outlook for Imperial unity is grave i and clouded. The journal adds that Sir Joseph declines to believe that the Empire can shuffle along with nothing but i sentimental ties, ana still maintain unity under concrete ordeals. HEAVY DAMAGES. (Received June 15,10.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 14. Before the King's Bench Division, Lieut.-Col. Bromley Davenport, who unsuccessfully contested an election with Robert Pearce for the Leek division of Staffordshire, was awarded £I2OO damages Pearce for printing an election pamphlet libelling the plaintiff. EARTH DISTURBANCES. (Received June 15, 9.50 a.m.) MELBOURNE, June 15. A series of earth disturbances have , occurred in the Halston district. Fissures have appeared eight teet deep, huge trees have been torn up, and big mounds have been created!^ It is not known whether these phenomena are due to a landslide or to seismic disturbance. DOCTORS OF LAW. , (Received J une 15,10.20 a.m.) LONDON, June 14. The Public Orator at the University of Cambridge (Dr. Sandys), in a laudatoryLatiiispeech, conferring the doctorate of. Laws, on Sir Joseph Ward, Mr IJouis Botha, and Mr Morns, mentioned that it had been intended to confer degrees on others who were absent, including Lord Grey, who was in Canada, and Lord Rothschild, who was ill. ' . Mr Andrew Fisher, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, he said, had declined the honour, which the Uni- j versity desired to pay to Australia j no less than to himself. DECLARATION OF LONDON. (Received June 15, 1.2 a.m.) LONDON, June 14. Mr Asquith has received, from the Imperial Maritime League, a letter signed by fift'y-one admirals protesting against the ratification of the Declaration of London. Altogether 102 admirals have protested. (Received June 15, 9.55 a.m.) LONDON, June 14.. Sir Edward Grey has introduced a Bill to consolidate and amend the enactments; relating to naval prizes, and a Bill amending the laws relating to international tribunals and neutrality, thus enabling the Government to carry but the Declaration of London. GERMAN DREADNOUGHTS. (Received June 15, 10.20 a.m.) BERLIN, June 14. It is semi-officially stated that Kruegar, an ex-naval / constructor, has been sentenced to three months' imprisonment in a fortress for communicating to Great Britain details of the armament of German Dreadnoughts. ' '"■ w The Court took into consideration the fact that the State had not been injured. By that it is understood, unofficial ly, that Krueger, after leaving the service, joined an Anglo-American Company, and communicated the de■ tails it required before tendering for the supply of machinery. He was not ; accused of treasonable intent.