New-York tribune., 1907-04-29
COLONIAL CONFERENCES
Opportunism Rather than Imper;o1
Federation.
London Ann -

London. April IT.
Spade work for imperial federation has ssa,
resumed at the Colonial Office with more 49,,
ity Of organization than enthusiasm Tbs -
premieTs around Lord EIgin's table renro..-. sa
an area OF 100000 square miles where 1o,,.,.
to the Crown is a tradition and seIf-zovarn1,--s,
is reality The Prime Minister has vveIc,-..,
them in stately periods as the responsible bo-.s-
OF group of nations as free and seIf-resnac,t,-
as England; the Lord Mayor has greeted +ba-,
as honorary freemen Of the city. and thew co,,1s
hardly be more splendidly entertained 70 49,.
were sOvereigns Of great European king7o-,s
If leader writer's and after dinner sDeal-s-, -
to be believed. the Colonial Conference - -
event of mOmentOus importance in English st.
tory; yet the premiers themselves have orta,1-
settled down to work In a methodicaI wav ro- :
series Of academic discussions which ara ~,
likely to lead to practical results Thew ara
more inclined TO magnify difficulties than n
Overrate the significance OF this auphictvon,o
council OF a worldwide empire. There are com
mon interests, there were at the assemble,
Of ThermOpylae and Delphi; but the spirit ~
selr-sacrihce for noble ideals is lacking ana
without stimulus of that sort there cannot bs
enthusiasm for great cause The preuiers an,
Jealous Of the independence Of their Great.r
Britain and determined TO resent the slightest
attempt on the part Of the Colonial Once or tha
imperial government to restrict discussions or
TO regulate the conference. The Liberal minis
teTs, on the other hand, are oppOrtunists, WIN
date everything In politics from the last gen
eral election. and are convinced that the de-
cisiOn against preferential trade and Chamber
laInism was final and cannot be reversed by tbs
colonies. There is no commanding personality IN
the Colonial Office. as there was a few years
ago. Optimism has declined. A close, caIculat-
ing spirit Of enlightened seIf-interest prevails.
Enthusiasm for imperial policies may be Lack
Ing. but the conference has been rapidly organ
ized for month Of effective and comprehensive
discussion. When the first council was held. In
1887. there were half-hearted debates on safe
subjects. such as patents and merchandise
marks. bankruptcy processes sugar production
and investment Of trust funds in colonial securi-
ties. Nothing was accomplished, and no impress
sion was made on the colonies. Ten years after
ward there was another conference, with mora
interesting programme. including ocean eabes
commerce. defence, penny postage emigration
and political relations; and after a free ex-
change OF views three academic resolutions were
adopted. In 1902 Mr.. Chamberlain was Colonial
Secretary. in the pIenitude OF his power. and
when the third conference was held an atmos-
phere was created for imperial interests. A gen
eral scheme OF military and naval defence was
set aside because Sir Wilfrid Laurier opposed II
as International and Mr.. Deakin and the Aus
tralians are now grateful to him for having
taken a strong line OF his own Commercial and
political relations. however. were discussed IN a
fraternal spirit. Mr. Chamberlain proposed a
definite scheme for an Imperial Council; the
colonial delegates recommended that there
should be a conference once in four years. and
preferential trade within the empire was pro-
UoY Ia Ira To hal
TO be either reasonable or practical. The Liberal
government has not encouraged the continuance
OF the discussion Of preferential trade at the
new conference but this cannot be prevented.
Mr.. Deakin has come from Australia with a new
phrase. Mutual concessions for mutual advan-
tage": Sir WiIfrfd Laurier has not forgotten
that he set the example OF preferential trade.
and Sir Joseph Ward Or. Jameson. Mr.. Moor
and Sir Robert Bond favor the same policy, The
premiers are not agreed any scheme for
permanent Imperial Council or the constitution
OF future conferences; but they are prepared to
discuss these matters as well as imperial de-
fence. naturalization. emigration. judicial ap-
peals. the extension OF British interests in the
Pacific and other questions. The premiers have
no idea Of being hampered or controlled by the
Colonial Office or the Prime Minister They in-
sist upon having from the outset free field for
discussion and absolute independence OF action.
The Prime Minister IN his OppOrtunlst speech
has described Il a. a conference between the
Premlers and the members OF the present gov-
ernment. Sir Wilfrid Laurier and Mr.. Deakin
have welcomed this definition marking an
advance from the previous conception Of a con-
ference between the Secretary for the Colonies
and the colonial ministers The conference ae-
ouires new dignity as one between government
and governments. but IT also falls under the
limitations OF the representative system os SELF
government. Neither the ministry here nor the
colonial premiers can go behind the Pariia-
ment and electorate to which they are account
able This is the Prime Minister'S perfunctoTT
method OF explaining that. while preferential
trade may be discussed. the Liberal gOvernment
cannot make any concessions which viii re-
verse the verdict OF the country IN favor Of
Free Trade This is logical. but It is also dis
concerting 1t is virtually admission that
there cannot be an agreement on the subject OF
paramount interest to the colonies. Compliments
may be exchanged. good feeling may be fos-
tered. but imperial reciprocity cannot be taken
up on the business side Matters Of secOnaAS
imlortance may be discussed in spirit o. sc-
conmodation. but the main issue must be de-
ferred until there has been another general eisc-
tiOn in the kingdom and there Is governments
empowered to deal practically with reclprOc"S
between the mother country and the colonies-
The Premier of New Zealand emphasized the
fact that the colonial governments could hO|
have preferential relations with pohtical par
ties in England. They can have dealings anu
consultations with the ministry OF the day. Ses
their sympathIes must lie with the party Whielt
Is willing to meet them on their own sroun1
and make business arrangements with tneii-
Preferential trade with colonies has become
party question in England. The Liberal pal'E