The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-03-11
MEET TO CEMENT
BRITISH UNITY
COMING IMPERIAL CONFERENCE
IS OF INTEREST WHILE REC
IPROclTY AGREEMENT
IS PENDING.

six nations in conclave, six nations
spanning the surface Of the globe, ali
English speaking all sprung from the
same source, all mindful to greater
or less extent, of each others well
rare, and all DESTROYS Of a closer bond
or union. Such, in fact, If not in
name, Is the meaning Of the imperial
conference, formerly the colonial con-
| ference, which assemblies in London
on May %, for a months gathering.
unique in the worlds history. Dele
gates from bleak and inhospitable
Newfoundland, from Canada, our great,
thriving and growing northern neigh
Dor, thence across the Pacific, from
New Zealand. from Australia, and
Boer premier, a decade ago, was in
arms against the nation to which he
has since sworn fealty. And lastly,
Great Britain. under whose nominal
sway are the Ave dominions, bound
to the mother country by the intan-
gible ties Of blood and loyalty.
Held Every Four Years.
The last previous conference was
held in 1907. and it was then provid-
ed that the meetings should come
every four years. Early in 1910, there
fore, the British secretary of state,
for the colonies issued the call, to-
gether with q request for the submits
sion OF questions which each domin-
ion desired to have taken up. In reply
there have been programmes from all,
except Canada, rather significantly
covering a large variety of subjects
a ir1n int
ais for imperial representation, from
New Zealand, vigorous protest
against the declaration of London,
by Australia, and curiously enough,
the suggestion of a plan by South
Africa for the abolition Of the pre-
ferential tariff now granted British
manufacturers. and the substitution
of fixed sum, equivalent to the total
preference now given (about $2i500.-
0e0 annually into the treasury of
Great Britain for use in imperial de-
fense
The main questions to come up for
consideration have been thus briefly
outlined. It may be noted as a strik-
ing omission that in none of the mat
ters brought UP has there been the
slightest reference to imperial prefer
ence, save in the case of South Africa,
which proposes to abolish it, although
it should be stated that the resolu-
ton was withdrawn from the South
African programme by General Botha,
who, however, said he would take Ii
up more at length upon his arrival
in London.
Imperial Preference of Interest.
The subject of imperial preference is
of course, of considerable interest to
the United States, at this particular
time, while our own reciprocity agree
ment with Canada is pending. Its
omission is the more remarkable, too,
from the fact that 1t was a burning
question at the last conference in
1907, when it was favored by most of
the dominions, and in particular, Can
ada. Our northern neighbors at that
time had not recovered from the sue
cession of rebuffs they had met at the
hands of our senate. Now, however,
when there seems to be a prospect
that a reciprocity agreement can be
carried through, they are lukewarm,
to say the very least, with regard !
to the imperial scheme
And it may be that others Of the
dominions have been influenced by the |
Canadian point of view, In a sense, |
they welcome a policy which will make |
them less dependent, materially, on the
mother country, and they desire to
walk alone. Thus Newfoundland, as
has been intimated by Premier Morris,
would not be averse TO a reciprocal ar
rangement with the United States,
which would allow her to put her fish
on our markets free. as we'll as the
product of her latest and rapidly
industry, paper making. Most
significant of all is the statement
made by Premier Fisher of far-off
Australia, who, after passing his fay
orable opinion on Canadian reciproc-
city with the United States, said:
THE link which binds the British
self governing dominions together
does not depend on preferential trade
This policy is merely incidental
So preference has been relegated to
the background.
The AIR Route.
The all-rail route is a subject
which came UP at the last conference.
and is, in brief, a scheme for girding
the world with an all British line OF
steamers and railway service, particu-
larly for transporting the mails. The
plan stirs the imagination. 1t was
by Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the
Canadian premier who desired, as the
first link in the chain the establish
ment of a line of fast steamships
from Britain to Canada, twenty four
knot vessels which would cut down
the time of the trans atlantic journey
by two days. He promised, II this
were done, to secure reduction in
the journey across the continent of
the same period. Premier Laurier's
dream, even now, is not wholly realiz-
ed, but great progress has been made |
toward the goal From Canada, the
speedy mail boats are to ply to New
Zealand, to Australia, India, thence {
back to the starting point by way of
Suez.
The question Of immigration is one
which Is vexing all of the self-gov- (
erning dominions. Canada and Aus
tralia, are, of course, stirred by the |
fear of Japanese encroachments. but |
still more difficult, in an imperial |