Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-07
TRADE THE BIG THEME
Much interest in the Fourth Co.
Ionial Conference.
CHAMBERLAIN IS MISSED
His Imperialistic Enthusiasm Gave
the Movement Great Impetus.
SOME OF THE DEFENSE SCHEMES
Emigration, Penny Postage, Naturai-
zation and Patent Laws Are Also
to Be Discussed.
CHAMBERLAIN is MISSED
SOME OF THE DEFENSE SCHEMES

LONDON, April 6.-The fourth colonial
conference. which will assemble here April
To- promises to be the most interesting and
most important yet held, although the alb
sence of Joseph Chamberlain. the ex-
colonial secretary. whose imperialistic en-
thusiasm gave the movement its greatest
impetus. and his personal antithess, the
bluff and picturesque Richard Seldom, late
premier of New Zealand, will be greatly
felt. Popular interest In the conference Is
enhanced by the participation OF DIR.
Jameson. the Transvaal raider. tho is now
premier of Cape Colony, and Gen. Louis
Botha. premier Of the newly reconstructed
Transvaal Alfred Deakin, the Australian
premier; Sir Joseph G. Ward, premier of
New Zealand: Frederick r. Moor, premier
of Natal and DR.. Jameson. whose health is
now precarious, have already arrived In
London. and Premier Sir Wilfrid Laurier
or Canada, Premier Sir Robert Bond of
Newfoundland, and Gen. Botha, are on
their way here.
Premier Botha embarked at Cape Town
March q. with the declared purpose of con-
vincing Great Britain of the loyalty of her
Dutch subjects. He will be given hearty
and official welcome on his arrival at
Southampton which will echo public feel
ing.
An Important Question.
The most important questions slated for
discussion during the conference are
project providing for a permanent council,
preferential trade between the colonies and
Great Britain and among the colonies
themselves, imperial defense schemes and
emigration. with minor questions like
penny postage, naturalization and patent
laws.
Preferential trade looms up as the largest
subject In the preliminary talk. While
the colonists are anxious to give the
mother country advantages, they chafe
under the one-sided arrangements which
yield them no return. Premiers Laurier
and Deakin have already gone on record
to this effect and the tendency of colonial
opinion seems to be voiced by the following
resolution which Premier Jameson proposes
to introduce at the conferences
This conference. while adhering to the
principle OF preferential treatment for
products and manufactures Of the United
Kingdom. desires to impress upon his mai
estys government the opinion that the con-
tnuance of such preferential treatment to
British producers and manufacturers Is
largely. dependent upon the granting of
some reciprocal privileges to British col
0ptes.
Step From Free Trade.
This would mean taking a step away
from free trade. and the government ap-
pears anxious to evade that dilemma
The next thorny question is that of i'm
perial defense. on which greatly conflicting
opinions are expressed. The inherent Diff
ficulty Of the problem will be to draw the
distinction between Great Britain as a Eu-
ropean power and as the mother country OF
q great colonial empire. Thus Great Brit
ain could not expect the colonies to bind
themselves to assist her in any European
war In which they were not concerned
though at the same time. under the exist
ing condition, any colony could embroil
Great Britain in war without mourning any
but the moral obligation to come to her
assistance. The idea Is to endeavor If Dos
sible. to arrive at some agreement or AL
lance fnsuring consultation and co-opera-
ton in any conflict arising from causes out
side Of purely European politics. all parties
thereto contributing men and money for q
common defense upon popular revenue
basis. DR.. Jameson intends to propose the
organization of some plan whereby contri-
buttons from each colony should be eouita-
bly, fixed on the condition that colonies be
represented upon the imperial council at
which questions concerning the peace of
the empire shall be discussed.
Favors Increasing Contributions.
Premier Ward Of New Zealand favors in
creasing the colonial naval contributions to
the imperial defense. Australia Is deter
mined to bring up the Asiatic exclusion
question. and Premier Ward declared on be-
ing interviewed on the subject that New
Zealand was against the admission of Chi
nese and Japanese. between whom and New
Zealanders he sees the inevitable struggle
for supremacy. The premier said: I'VE OBJ
1ect to being bound by treaties in which
We have no voice to admit Asiatics freely"
The government has reserved fifty rooms
In the Hotel Cecil for the entertainment of
premiers and their STATS and families The
visitors will be banqueted and the colonists
Will be given the freedom of several cities