New-York tribune., 1900-05-01
HONORING THE COLONLS7S.
PRINCE AND PREMIER UNITE IN EN-
PRESSIONS OF REGARD.

MEL DENIsoN PROPOSES AN IMPE-
RIAL CoNFERENCE-MR. CHAM
BERLAIN's SPEECH
London. April 3O.-The dinner given at the
Hotel Cecil this evening by the British
Empire League in honor of the colonial
troops in South Africa and of the Australian
Federation Delegates brought together brill
liant gathering. The Duke of Devonshire. Lord
President of the Council of Ministers, presided.
hanked by the Prince of Wales, the Duke of
York. the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke Of Fife,
the Marquis of Salisbury, Joseph Chamberlain,
LORD Wolseey, Lord Strathcona and Mount
Royal, Colonel Denison, president of the Cana
dian League, and Lord Lansdowne. The COM
pany included more than two hundred others.
In proposing the health of the Queen the Duke
or DeVonshire remarked that Her Majesty's
cent visits to London and Dublin had made
clear to every one the respect and loyalty felt
for her in ali parts of her dominions and said
he was confident that if Her Majesty could
visit the colonies she would receive there a
welcome even more enthusiastic
me Prince of Wales, responding to the toast
10 himself, the Princess and the other members
or the royal family, made the following brief
reference 70 the Brussels incident:
will say no more than this. All OF us are
IN 1he hands of Coo. and whether lose
lie through sickness, accident or the hands Of
an assassin we must bow to His inscrutable
WI. am glad 70 have this opportunity not
only of thanking you of England but of thank
ing others from far distant parts. not only Of
the empire. but of the civilized world
Ihe Prince concluded by acknowledging the
ready manner IN which the colonies have sent
their best troops 70 fight for the mother coun-
try"
TRIBUTE FROM THE PREMIER
Lord Salisbury, proposing The Imperial
Forces" paid tribute to the "disinterestedness
of the colonies in sending troops whose splendid
qualities and courage had formed a magnificent
spectacle that had taken not only the Empire
but the whole world by surprise" adding:
The services they have rendered in the field
are splendid. unexamped and only surpassed
by the further service Of having drawn the En-
pire together Not only have they helped us In
What, trust is a conquering campaign, but
IN the present state of opinion in parts of
the world. is of no small importance. After
what the colonies have done it is realized that
Great Britain is more important nation in the
world than before; her character is more re-
spected and her wishes more regarded.
Lord Salisbury deprecated any attempt to ex-
pedte fusion of the colonies with the mother
country by legislation declaring that it would
be better to allow this wonderful growth Of SEN
timent TO continue "by it's own laws and ac-
cordlng to the impulse of its own vitality" In
that case, he said it would exercise an infu-
ence over the character, progress and habits of
the world such had never before been exer-
clsed by any empire. He concluded with the
remark: II beg to couple with this TOAST the
name OF my excellent friend, Colonel Denison"
PROPOSAL FOR A CONFERENCE.
Colonel Denison, responding. said:
BY giving advantages to the West Indies the
Canadians have proved their willingness to put
their hands in their pockets for the benefit Of
fellow COlOniStS Tr1n do
fence is concerned, other nations armed to
the teeth and it time took such meas
ures as would enable the empire, should occa-
sion arise, to strike with full force l hope that
upon the conclusion Of the war an Imperial con-
ference will be called
Mr.. Chamberlain. who proposed Our Aus !
tralian knsmen," referred at some length to the |
question of Australian federation he said he !
cordially agreed with Lord Salisbury's argument |
against any artificial Fastening of colonial union |
and he supposed. therefore, that the creation !
Of Colonial Council was still distant and that /
It would continue TO devolve upon the mother /
country, as trustee Of Imperial interests to |
guard the future of the empire Abiding to
The assistance given by the Colonial troops in
South Africa he said
The fact is, we only just beginning to
possibilities in the future Tonight we recog-
nize, with heartfelt gratitude the sentiments
nat moved the colonies to join in an hour Of
rlal. If the occasion should unhappily arise
Nhen we may be called upon to reciprocate with
stronger than words. l believe the
Did country will stand the strain.
GROWING BOND OF UNION.
In an eloquent peroration Mr. Chamberlain
declared that the old days of apathy and indif-
erence toward the colonies had passed away
and had given place TO a strenuous desire for
loser union.
Joseph Israel Tarte, Canadian Minister Of
Public Works, proposing The British Empire
League. SAID he hoped the would be speed
Iy concluded, and that then the same free in
stitutfons which had made Canada a nation
would be given to South Africa. The Canadians
ae continued. well remembered the trip of the
Prince of Wales to Canada and now in their
behalf. he would ask His Royal Highness !
whether it was not possible to repeat that visit |
Loud cheers.)
The Duke of Devonshire, briefly responding
'or the league said a dispatch had been sent to |
Lord Roberts to the effect that the Prince of
Wales, the Duke of York. the Duke OF Cam
bridge, the Marquis OF Salisbury and the mem
oers of the British Empire League had drunk
% the success of the imperial forces he was so
ably commanding and expressing their high
appreciation of the loyal courage and endur-
ance OF all ranks, adding that reply has been
'eceived from Lord Roberts rendering grateful
hanks behalf of the troops and saving
hat all were in splendid condition and that
Her Majesty might rely upon them to bring the
'ampaign in South Africa to q satisfactory con-
fusion.
The Duke of Devonshire concluded with an
oppression Of deepest sympathy and regret on
)ehalf of the league, with the Canadians in the
presence OF the calamity at Ottawa.
CROKER MAY HASTEN HIS RETURN.