The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1907-04-15
CONFERENCE OF aa#
DEEPEST IMPORTANCE
Policies Adopted Will Exert
Tremendous Influence
Upon Commerce
. tBy Associated Pressl

(By ASSOcldJeu HICbSb
London. April 15.-After a lapse Of
five yers since The first conference OF
it's kind was held. the British Colonial
conference made up of the prcmiers
and other representatives lf England
and self-governing colonies, assem-
hled in London today to discus i'm
portant mate that are of mutual in
terest to the component parts of the
empire.
The conference was opened at the
Colonial Office with Sir Henry Camp
bell-Bannerman, as prime minister, oc-
cupying the chair Neither the press
nor public is to be admitted to the
sessions. though It is not intended that
the proceedings shall be kept secret.
The conference viii be in session
about a month. After its close an ac-
count of the proceedings will be is
sued in The form Of a Blue Book.
Canada is represented at the confer
ence by Sir Wilfred Laurler. premier;
Sir Frederick Boren, minister of mill
tia and defence. and l.. p. BrodeuS
minister of marine and fisheries. New
foundland is represented by Sir Rob
ert Bond, Mr. Deakin, premier OF
the Commonwealth of Australia; Sir
j. G. Ward. premier of New Zealand; /;
l.. SIS jameson, premier of Cape Col
ony; f. r Moor, premier of Natal,
General Botha. representing the
Transvaal and Sir w. Lyme. minister
of Customs of Australia. we're other
notable figures at the conference open
ing.
The Importance of the conference
can scarcely be oyerestimated. The
/ policy which may be adopted by The
premiers will exert a tremendous in
/ fluence on the trade and commerce of
the world and on the political history
/ of every component part of the en.
( pir.e
Sizing out the matters which a ma
/ iority OF the colonies regard as rela
! lively most important, the FIRST place
is to be given to the question of the
cnstitution Of the imperial confer
ence itself The wisdom of making
II a permanent institution, hich shal
meet at stated intervals and discuss
the questions which affect he British
empire will be considered. Canada Is
] no MUM iQNUl VI nidhllE ilit tOli
ference q permanent institution. The
sentiment of majority of the colonies
Is that the conference. " made per
manent, should be purely an advisor,
board.
Next to the nature and cxten. O.
this permanent council itself in ths
event that il is established. the ques
tion of greatest moment to be dis
clsssed is that OF preferential tariff
While the government now in powei
Ia England is definitely committed t
oppose this system OF a preferential
tariff. more than one of the colonies Ii
now insisting upon H. and he indica
tions are that it win be leading feat
ure II the discussion The advocates
Of preferential tariff maintain tha
existing tariffs can be reduced in ia
vor of he colonies on reciprocal
basis. and thus knit the empire into
one homogeneous whole without sus
aiming any loss.
How IT, the colonies shall contri
butte to the imperial defense Is an
other matter OF great Importance
which will come before the confer
ence. Many of them are getting read,
to launch ont on a naval and miliiar,
programme OF their own How fal
this shall be pursued and how much 4
shall be uiaeed al the disposal of tn,