PRESS CONFERENCE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2521, 7 June 1909, Page 5

PRESS CONFERENCE

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GERMANY’S ATTENTION. WATCH EFFORTS TO PROMOTE UNITY. United Press Association— Copyright BERLIN, June 4. The tone of -an article in the Neuesto Nacliricliten, in reference to the Imperial Press Conference-, indicates that the Germans are closely watching every effort to promote the unity of the. British Empire. PROPOSAL FOR AN IMPERIAL NEWS AGENCY. AN ODE OF WELCOME. . United Press Association—Copyright (Received June 6. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, June 6. The Commonwealth delegates t-o the Imperial Press Conference have oppointed Messrs Thomas and Kir-wan their chairman and secretary, respectively.

* The South African and Canadian delegates intend to submit a scheme for the creation of an Imperial News Agency, with a central office in London, to distribute news throughout the Empire. Lively interest is manifested in the proposal. Mr. Harold Begbie’s stirring ode of welcome to the delegates fills a column of the “Times.”

Owing to only three hours being allotted out of each four in the Conference day for business, and tho overwhelming entertainments by day and night, the. Conference will resume at tho end of the month after the provincial tour. BANQUET IN LONDON. GREAT SPEECH BY LORD ROSEBERY. (Received June 7, 1.15 a.m.) LONDON, June 6. For enthusiasm and representative character, the banquet of 600 guests in the largest hall in London was one of the most remarkable gatherings ever held in tho Empire’s capital, and was memorable for an oration holding the hearers spellbound, and transmitting the .most striking moving message to every corner of the Dominions. Lord Burnham (principal proprietor of the “Daily Telegraph”) presided. All the delegates and every leading journalist in the counjtry were present. The guests included General Sir lan Hamilton, Lord Northcliffe- (formerly Sir Alfred Harmsworth), Max Pemberton, Sir Douglas Straight, Dr. George Parkin, and Lord Faber. Conspicuous among the decorations were symbolic Imperial designs, and tho musical programme consisted of the national songs of Great and Greater Britain. King Edward, sent a warm response to the loyal telegram hoping that ho might be long spared to his people and Empire. Lord Rosebery made tho speech of the evening. It was generally pronounced as nothing less than wonderful, and was, perhaps, his most brilliant effort. In welcoming the delegates he emphasised the enormous importance of the gathering. Referring to the Conference of Prime Ministers of the Empire, he remarkled that without disparagement of those gatherings, ho could say that the present Imperial one was more important still. Ministers were transient, while tlite power of the great .newspaper, gaining and embodying opinion, immeasurably exceeded the statesman’s. It was, he said, best to use the simplest words on the present occaion. The only two essential were, perhaps, the sweetest mortal can hear, “Welcome Homo.” (Prolonged cheering.) “This,” he continued, “is the motto of the"occasion. Welcome to your home,” (Renewed cheers.) Proceeding, he reviewed with delicate pathos, and fisahes of humor and satire, the 'picture of what the delegates who have arrived see ,of Britain, past and present, including the prodigious but always inadequate armada ( protecting its shores. “All these, gentlemen,” he exclaimed, ■“are yours as much as ours. Ho then asked what they had brought, adding that that was more important to the Motherland than what they could take from her. The best they could .bring was the knowledge about themselves, their communities, their aspirations, and policies. Latterly, be said, according to the favorite practice of retired .politicians, he had dreamed a dream. Ho had pictured Pailiament voting supplies for two years, packing itself up in obsolete warships now so° readily “scrapped,” and going on a trip to discover something about the Empire, meanwhile the Motherland was governed, as much as now, by the heads of the Permanent Departments. Some people would have, perhaps, greater confidence in its welfare under ° such well ordered control. (Laughter.) The Peers would naturally pay .the expenses of the tour. “The House of Commons votes taxes, tho House of Lords -pays thorn.” He next dwelt on tho surprises awaiting them in .the countries visited under the imaginary tour. The discovery in democratic Canada ,of a Premior holding his own against the buffets of innumerable elections, and also that .wealth was not a crime; next, New Zealand, carrying out in total absence of tradition or complexity the policies wo ' are endeavoring to construct. (Received June 7, 1,50 a.m.)

Lord Rosebery continued that he was astonished at the virility of Australia in sustaining seven legislatures. Re-

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ferring to South Africa, jbe declared it the greatest modern success in Em-pire-building. The tourists would, he said avoid Uganda lest they should disturb the privacy of ex-President Roosevelt. Finally, after a tribute to Mr. Henniker Heaton’s activity, Lord Rosebery, altering his mood, described with extraordinary impressiveness tho state of Europe, its surfaco calm, and its ' overpowering preparation for war, and added that Britain was determined to spend, if need be, her last shilling on a Dreadnought. He was not sure that even that would bo enough. Phssibly it would be their duty to carry back to .the Dominions the message that the same, personal duty, the responsibility ■for defence, rests on every citizen. Jle emphasised tho deplorable condition of Europe relapsing into barbarianism. He concluded: “Pressure is being put on this little England to defend itself, its liberties and yours. Take this message also- back. The Old Country is right at heart, -nere is no failing or weakness in her. She rejoices in renewing her youth in. her giant Dominions beyond the seas. For her own salvation sho must look to herself, and that failing, she looks to you.”