The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-06
THE NEW BRITISH EMPIRE.
PLANS FOR IMPERIAL FEDERATION
DEBATED At THE JUBILEE

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LONDON. AUG. 27-ws have at last been al.
lowed 10 zee some account Of the great confer
ence held In June and July last between Joseph
Chamberlain and the Premier Of the ~self-gov.
erning colonies Of Great Britain. 1t IN frankly
stated that the Parliamentary paper which has
;ust been issued 10 no moro than q memorandum.
and much that took place in tho way OF discus
sion still romains . secret From what We have
been told. however. II II possible TO Judge OF the
kind Of foundations which the ambitious Colo
NAL Secretary wishes to lay. and on which he
hopes 70 rear his great edinco Of imperial fed.
GRAFTON. It II plain. too, AZ far as one can judge
from the attitude taken up by tholPremiers. that
Mr.. Chamberlain will have many difficulties to
overcome before he can see his dream In . fair
way of realization.
This masterful man has. much to their own
disgust. forced himself into the practical leader
ship Of the Tories, who have no option now but
70 do his bidding. Further proof. II any werc
wanted. of Joseph Chamberlain determination
TO gather into his own hand all the strings no
thinks 1t desirable TO DO able to pull appears in
n report frat circulated to-day. Before long we
may expect IL TO be formally announced that tho
control Of British protectorates win pass from
tho Foreign Ohico 10 the Colonial Office.
The change 10 said to have been def
nitely arranged before tho Colonial Secretary
left London q week ago. Should this prove true.
and there 10 nothing more likely, Il merely needs
. glance at the map to see the sphere OF infu.
enco which tho Colonial Secretary will have
wherein TO work. The memorandum we now
have under consideration has been sent to all
tho colonial Governors, together with n de.
spstch, In which Mr.. Chamberlain expresses a
hope that tho conferences will result in a lasting
and beneiciale feet toward securing q complete
mutual understanding between the colonies aud
the mother country.
The conference met In all Ave times. But It
may be practically considered as one continuous
sittiuG. Mr., Chamberlain opened the proceed.
inRs with o long speech. In which he set forth
the various points on which he wished the Pre-
mioFu TO give opinions and suggestions. Ho
drew attention to the afrectionats feelings with
which all classes In this country regarded their
colonial fellow subjects, and laid stress on tho
strength, power. and resources OF the empire.
lie next insisted with great care on the infor-
mality OF the conference. All that passed was TO
be In strict confidence till a united conclusion
had been arrived at. The home Government
wished to learn their views rather than to press
it, own. This was evidently to invite confidence
and promote free discussion. for there is no
doubt that the Promiers might have been moro
than q little shy lest they should seem to COM
init themselves further on any point than would
DO agreeable to their own people.
Tho first point with which he dealt was tho
political relations between the colonies and tho
mother country. This he described as tho great
ost, the most important, and at the same time
the most difficult OF all tho subjects they could
consider. 1t was unnecessary to argue upon the
pdvantages OF closer union. In the United
Kingdom the idea OF federation was already in
the air. 1t was for them to say whether it had
gone 80 far In the colonies. and to consider the
possibility OF giving practical application to the
principle. The Constitutions Of both England
and the colonies were the subject OF very slow
growth. and SO with imperial federation; II it
ever Is to be accomplished, it will be only after
the lapse OF considerable time and by gradual
Steps.
One most important step was the grouping of
the colonies. In this Canada had already shown
the way. In Australia proceedings with the
same view were taking place. and tho same
idea had hulked largely in tho past in South
Africa, and wouli probably como to the front
eRaln.
But with regard to the larger question Of the
federation OF the empire. the subject depended
entirely upon tho feelings in the colonies them.
selves. The United Kingdom would meet them
halt way. The present question was whether
there existed d genuine popular demand for
closer union, such as would justify the consider
alton OF practical proposals to give it shape.
Upon this point the Premiers resolved that the
present political relations between the United
Kingdom and the self-governing colonies were
generally satisfactory under the existing condi-
tion OF things. From this resolution Mr.. s. Sed-
don. Premier of New Zealand. and Sir f. C. Brad
don, Premier Of Tasmania, dissented. They held
that the time had already come to make tho
political ties more formal. The majority,
however, could not take this position. Some of
them, indeed, felt that with the rapid growth OF
co!nRiel population present relations could
not continue indefinitely. and that some
means would have to be devised for
and directinn Of imperial questions in which
they were equally concerned with the mother
country. Hut II was recognized at the same
time that such u share in imperial policy would
Involve a proportionate share in aid of imperial
srrss not sSeinerailyf p a"'Si re- p' The fr tne s9'G Mefs
unanimous in declaring it desirable. whenever
SndeT Savq, rderal pr union Colonies .S S whith t are sso.
graphically united.
the, two sidss, Mr.. chan.6erIain said there Was a a
Tn! necessity Tor some better machinery Of con,
Kingdom. Ho saEsested the 7 feasibility sT ; H''e Of
fissss eoissn = great MaS sSpn .anG 81 the empire; r to which ntHSf.
pctonsiSrIss-Sno oi'a mere sSa" de sS1rsss"'a but people p.Spi,,
who BY LhsiE position and commemorative char
SssaEi BE- sHa ab S'D &c s tES'h really Ti!A ea fslqRisi and iafs 8niS:
shie advice; such q council. i it were created.
which We must always look forward as our ulii.
" the time had not already come, 1t surely
would come when the colonies would desire To
substitute for the present slight Relationship n
true partnership. With that would necessarily
como q share In the management of the cmpire,
and with that privilege would come obligation
and responsibility. and some form of contribu.
ti0n 10 the common expenses.
We have already seen what the Premicrs re,
solved on q pRTt OF this subject. In addition
they were unanimously OF opinion that mean.
while IL would be desirable TO hold periodical
conferences Of representatives of the colo les
Of common interest.
Still, in connection with the same subject. Mr..
Chamberlain drew attention to the Judicial
COMMITTEES Of the Priyy Council, the great Judi
Ciai Court OF, Appeal OF the empire, which he de
aorIhed a. being the nearest approach, the
CLOSEST analogy TO the Supreme Court OF the
United States 10 give this council even greater
authority and a more representative character
they bad gladly secured the. appointment, az
Pnvy Councillors, OF distinguished Judges from
Canadian, Australian. and South African courts
who would now sit on equal terms with
the. other members OF the Judicial Com
Hhttee; sat there were objections to this