# 1911 Imperial Conference

The 1911 Imperial Conference convened in London on 23 May 1911 and concluded on 20 June 1911. It was held to mark the occasion of the coronation of King George V on 22 June 1911.
The conference discussed Empire-wide constitutional arrangements, with proposals by New Zealand's prime minister Sir Joseph Ward for an imperial council made up of representatives of the dominions which would advise the British government on imperial matters. Ward developed this idea into a proposal for an Imperial Parliament (see Imperial Federation) which would be responsible for the Empire's foreign policy including the declaration of war and would be presided over by an Imperial executive. British prime minister H. H. Asquith rejected these proposals as infringing on British autonomy in making foreign policy, but he agreed it was necessary to consult with dominion prime ministers on certain matters. Asquith proposed a standing committee on foreign affairs, but the dominion prime ministers could not agree on a final resolution. The adoption of a new flag for the British Empire was also meant to be discussed, but this ultimately was not covered due to much of the conference being focused on the aforementioned topics.
The conference came to an agreement on the negotiation of treaties that affect various dominions and that the British government would consult the dominions when preparing its proposals for proposed international Peace Conferences and that future international peace treaties and some international agreements would be circulated to the dominions for comment prior to the British government signing them.
Australia expressed concern about Japan's growing naval power, and it was agreed that the British government would consult Australia when negotiating renewal of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. Britain also agreed to consult South Africa about negotiations with Germany, considering its colonial aspirations in Africa.

## Participants

The conference was hosted by King-Emperor George V, with his Prime Ministers and members of their respective cabinets:
| Nation | Name | Portfolio |
| United Kingdom | H. H. Asquith | Prime Minister (Chairman) |
| United Kingdom | Lewis Harcourt | Secretary of State for the Colonies |
| United Kingdom | David Lloyd George | Chancellor of the Exchequer |
| United Kingdom | Sir Edward Grey | Foreign Secretary |
| United Kingdom | Lord Loreburn | Lord Chancellor |
| United Kingdom | Viscount Haldane | Secretary of State for War |
| United Kingdom | Sydney Buxton, | President of the Board of Trade |
| United Kingdom | Winston Churchill | Home Secretary |
| United Kingdom | Herbert Samuel | Postmaster General of the United Kingdom |
| United Kingdom | Sir Rufus Isaacs | Attorney General for England and Wales |
| United Kingdom | John Burns | President of the Local Government Board |
| United Kingdom | Thomas McKinnon Wood | Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs |
| Australia | Andrew Fisher | Prime Minister |
| Australia | Egerton Lee Batchelor | Minister for External Affairs |
| Australia | George Pearce | Minister for Defence |
| Canada | Sir Wilfrid Laurier | Prime Minister |
| Canada | Sir Frederick William Borden | Minister of Militia and Defence |
| Canada | Sir Louis-Philippe Brodeur | Minister of Marine and Fisheries |
| Newfoundland | Sir E. P. Morris | Prime Minister |
| Newfoundland | Robert Watson | Colonial Secretary |
| New Zealand | Sir Joseph Ward | Prime Minister |
| New Zealand | John Findlay | Minister of Justice and Attorney-General |
| South Africa | Louis Botha | Prime Minister |
| South Africa | F. S. Malan | Minister of Education |
| South Africa | Sir David Pieter de Villiers Graaff | Minister of Public Works and of Posts and Telegraphs |