Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-18

soon to be held in London is
the most important gathering
g of British statesmen that has
been held since the war broke out This
is the opinion of English economic i'm
perialists, and of some other people.
There have been important councils
in London in which the allies took part,
but they related chiefly to the military
situation-the economic conference in
which the plans were formulated for
continuing the war after the war was
held at Paris, the conference in which
the Balkan readjustment was deter
mined was held at Rome. The confer
ence recently held at Petrograd. while
OF military character, is assumed to
have had for one object the reassuring
of Russia that she should have the OAR
danelles and Constantinople.
The London conference differs from
these in that it is purely a British one.
and Is expected to consider principally
British imperial interests, although that
cannot be done without also taking
into consideration the interests of the
allies in view of the proposed economic
treaties after the war.
The first conference of the British
colony premiers and the home govern
rnent related almost entirely to military
measures Men, money and munitions
was the alliterative description Of its
character. These have been provided to
the extent that they will now be
minor topic. The food supply. which
may be obtained from the British pos
sessions, also is likely to be mere In
I'M the fmneria1 Q0vernment-
in conjunction with the governments OF
the different colonies. has already COM
pleted the arrangement for taking these
over on a wholesale scale, as was Illus
trated in the purchase of the Australian
wheat crop and wool-clfp.
The coming conference is an indica-
ton that the British government looks
upon the end of the war as In sight. The
Intention to give attention to the larger
political and economic questions OF the
United Kingdom, and the British colo
MES everywhere, Is in itself a sign that
this is in mind 1t Is the forerunner OF
the enlarged participation which the
great self-governing colonies are to
have in the affairs of the empire, and.
possibly, of the diminished power of the
privy council as the court of last re-
sort in certain matters affecting the
colonies.
The premiers of Australia, Canada and
South Africa will be there. The British
West Indies also will be represented, as
well as dependencies. such as India.
which have very small measure of
self-government. The participation of
South Africa, with its Boer representa-
tive. will be an illustration of how
completely England can assimilate and
adapt herself to people who are not of
English stock. for the most rabid i'm
perialist recognizes that the Boer as
tendency has to be acknowledged in
South Africa
Two of the principal premiers in the
conference who are known in the
United States will be Sir Richard Bor-
den of Canada and Sir William Hughes
of Australia
AIR Borden is almost as much at homs
on this side OF the border as in Canada
itself. Ie is an occasional visitor and
his addresses command wide attention.
During his early years he lived in New
Jersey.
In presenting the views of Canada.
Premier Borden will have one difficult
matter This is the attitude of the
French population. On the economic
subjects he ID well equipped. since Can
ada was among the first Of the self
preferential tariff with the purpose of
helping England and her trade with
out detriment to Canadian industries
II was Canada also which applied the
products. and Mr.. Borden. In the dis
cussion OF future tariff determinations.
will be able to tell how that scheme
worked.
Sir William Hughes became known
In the United States through news
paper reports of his fiery addresses
when in England two years ago. and
his exhortations to the natives of the
United Kingdom to be as loyal and as
self-sacrifc:ng as the colonials. He
also acquired fame from his fervid adj
vocacy of the policy of economic an
inhalation for England's enemies.
He had had a meteoric rise in Aus
tralia through the ranks of the labor
party until he became Its leader and
dictator. After his return. Australia
took a referendum on conscription. and
his reputation suffered a passing
eclipse through his failure to secure a
popular majority for 1t. but he Is re-
ported to have regained his former in
ffuence.. 1t is certain that he win DO
q prominent figure In the conference.
since he could not be kept In the back
ground.
Judged by his temperament. the Aus
tralian premier will continue to advo-
eS*s chs econp'1ic snnihi'ation of re