The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-21
Imperial c Q nf eren &c
Chiefest bf Coronation
Political Events.
HARD PROBLEMS
MUST BE SOLVED
Question Of Trade Preference
Has Been Withdrawn From
Official Program, but Colo
& MES Will Insist That
It Be Threshed
Out.

Especial Gable TO The Times Dispa tch. )
London. May 20.--The most import
ant event. politically. in the whole
three months that England is devotins
10 the coronation festivities. will take
place tomorrow when the Prime
Ministers OF the Commonwealth OF
Australia. the Dominion OF Canada, the
Union OF South Africa, the Dominion
OF New Zealand and New FsundIand.
the King and his cabinet. convene for
the much -heralded Imperial conference
which is TO consider every topic In which
& world vide empire ls Interested from
"a national defense to Tie design OF
penny postage stamps. This will be
the first oficial meeting of tbs new
sovereign and his foreign ministers
and II IS expected that l;ngiun5's at
titude toward her possessions Will De
materially changed as q result OF the
reforms advocated by the different do
minions and their ,Premiers.
Question of Trude Preference.
Chief among many Interesting ques-
mons raised by the delegates from
England's colonies In their dispatches
10 the home government when the
Imperial Conference was first proposed
is resolution No. 4 from the Union OF
south Africa relative to England's
position on trade preference. This
.
THAT the desirabllity be considered
of replacing the system OF trade pre-
terence at present granted by the over
seas d0mlnions 10 Great Britain by a
System Of contributions in money or
services to imperial naval and local
defense"
This resolution. coming as i, did
az tune when the Cana dian reciproc-
NY agreement was pending both before
n IN, ito
the Dominion Parliament at Ottawa.
Canada, raised storm OF protest
among English citizens. Tho press OF
all political factions noted the resolu-
tion and commented strongly upon IT'S
introduction at time when SO MANY
important measures were before the
English Parliament In fact SO stronr
was the pressure brought to bear
upon the ministry OF South Africa by
the home government that the cover.
ncr-Generai. Lord Gladstone. submit
ted letter recalling section No 4
OF the tentative resolutions for discus
sion before the Imperial Conference
stating that ne had been advised BY
MS ministry that they desired 20 post
pone the debate upon trade preference
but that the Right honorable, the
irime Minister. hoped that he would
have opportunity during his stav in
London 10 discuss the question raised
Wi'h HIS Majesty's government
Colonies VIII Insist.
rms action on the part of Lord
Glaostone and the ministry OF tho
Union OF South Africa eliminates dis
question OF this all interesting feature
from the Official Imperial Conference
OUT at the same time strongly init
mates that II Will be taken up by the
visiting ministers and the imperiai
government outside the mAA.ing room
such an action makes 1t clear that
England's colonies. though they do not
intend to coerce the imperial govern
ment. VIII insist upon this Important
matter being threshed out at an early
date-probably before the termtnatioH
OF The present conference.
apart from the question of trade pre
ference several subjects of the most
vital Importance to the future of tho
empire are to be raised. Australia
W! move 70 rescind the objectionable
features or the declara tion OF Io,don
and New Zealand has two equally I'm, !.
portant resolutions, one relating 10 tho
establishment of an imperial e,,,pru
and the other the reorganizatfon 81
the Colonial Once
me nrst OF the resolutions from New
Zealand is apt to prove rather start
nns to the orthodox Englishman, for
II Is nothing more or less than a reso-
.
OF a council which shall be composed
or members from the constituent parts
OF the empire. whether self governing
or otherwise. and which shall form an
advisory body having a voice In all
matters before the home government
pertaining to matters relating to the
colonies.
The second resolution provides for
the reconstruction Of the COLONIAL Office
bat 10
the welfare OF the colonies that the de-
partment OF the dominions be sepa-
rated from-that Of the crown colo
niles. and that each department. be
placed under a permanent separate un-
der secretary. This re,5SS.e'cn also
provides for the creation
nnissioners. who shall have me STATUS
OF foreign ambassadors and be called
into council with the Imperial govern
ment whenever matters pertaining TO
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