PRESS CONFERENCE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2527, 14 June 1909, Page 5

PRESS CONFERENCE

GERMAN PRESS CRITICISM. A SHAM EIGHT WITNESSED. United Press Association—Coi'Yiught LONDON, Juno 11. The “Tagebatt” states that the speeches at the conference were intended to frighten the colonies into making extraordinary sacrifices to the navy, apd must not bo taken too tragically. The “Vossiche Zeitung” laments that the Press Conference was addressed to the. colonial gallery. When the colonial goodwill had been attained another song would he sung in London. , The “Lokal-Anzeiger”,states that the speeches at the conference, with the preceding events, suggests that England has gradually reached .a state of mind permitting the worst to be feared. My Sydney Buxton, Postmaster-Ge-neral, received, the press delegates at the Post Office. Mr Murray, late of the “New Zealand Herald,” showed the Murray multiplex. Among other machines was the Gell keyboard perforator, the invention of a New Zealander, once in the telegraph service at Nelson. The delegates witnessed a sham fight by 20,000 troops at Aldershot. . General French and Mr Haldane, Secretary for War, entertained the delegates at luncheon.

A FIELD* DAY AT ALDERSHOT.

AN IMPRESSIVE SPECTACLE. (Received June 13, 5 p.m.) LONDON, June 12. The Right Hon. John Burns, the members of the Army Council, and the foreign officers competing at the Olympic games, accompanied the delegates • to Aldershot, where they were stationed on a spur of Longmoor Hill, whence they watched 7000 troops, under Major-General Grierson, defend « Tunnel Hill against Major-General Stephenson’s force of_lo,ooo men. An artillery duel, infantry rushes, cavalry charges, and fighting in rifle pits were included in the display. Four hundred guests lunched in a. marquee on Emperor’s Hill. There were no speeches. Captain Smith Dorrien afterwards paraded a brigade of artillery in war strength, with the view of emphasising the necessity for large reserves of horses. / A special force representing all branches of the service marched past tl}e delegates, who inspected the camp, and met the officers at the latter’s -club. THE MINISTERS’ BANQUET. NOTABLE SPEECHES BY COLONIAL DELEGATES. The Earl of Crewe, Colonial Secretary, presided at the Ministers’ banquet to the delegates at the Hotel Grafton. Tn the galleries were Lords AJversone, Strathcona, and Northcote, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of London* and many leading men. Mr. Asquith, in proposing the health of the guests, referred to the duty of the press to promote the highest forms and worthiest purposes of the spirit oi Imperial unity. The press, he said, was the only authentic mirror of publie opinion, and the most trustworthyauxiliary of every good Government. Nothing had been more noteworthy in the speeches of the last week than the fact that statesmen of all parties had spoken with an identity of sense —almost an identity of expression—upon matters of Imperial concern. Mr. E. S. Cunningham, editor of the Melbourne “Argus,” responded. H© thanked the Ministry for the magnificent entertainment and the many marks of consideration given to the delegates. Ho and his fellow delegates claimed no credit for the surprising results of the Conference at Home %and abroad. These were due to those statesmen who had proclaimed ' with united voice the aspirations ■of the Dominions of the Empire. This was the more noticeable because the heads of both political parties had agreed upon the'greatest of Imperial problems. The time had gone when the people overseas were expected to announce their loyalty to Britain. To-day there, was a reciprocal loyalty of every part of the Empire. In the development of the Imperial. idea they must proceed slowly. In the remote parts that idea would not bo hastened. It would have to grow, and it was growing. The wisest statesmen would guide the bark An tbe centre of the stream, and not force it over the rapids. Young countries, like young men, thought not as their elders thought. They a.sked questions. They had a spirit of independence, and that spirit might well be treated patiently. There was still a lingering feeling in Australia that Britain desired to control Australia’s des- /. * tinies. It was a legacy from stormy times, now gradually disappearing. V Lord Rosebery had told the delegates, * in one of the greatest speeches he had ever heard, that, there was a hush over Europe, betokening' a possible cataclysm. Since then there had been the cry of a united people uttering one word: “Empire.” Mr. George Fenwick, (managing, director of the “Otago Daily Times”) also responded. " He had, he said, come to England expecting that the. All Red cable would be the principal, subject of their deliberations, but that ‘had given place to a greater question, the unity and defence of the Empire. All delegates had been struck with the earnestness of the - leading men bn that fines-; . " • - . ... v v 4 . ' • ■ ' § .... , Ah': ' : A AAAa

CABLE NEWS.

-tion. It was being declared on tho Continent that the Conference speeches savored of panic. Could anyone present imagine such a thing? Tile speeches wore the logical outcome of the devotion of statesmen who had been considering Imperial problems for years. Tho Conference was animated, not by panic or even alarm, but by quiet resoluteness. The unity of the Empire was beyond discussion. The Homo Government was in accord with tho dependencies. AH knew there was no chance of severance. A French-Canadian delegate also responded to the toast. EFFECT OF THE CONFERENCE ON CANADIAN OPINION. A REALISATION OF DEFENCE RESPONSIBILITIES. (Received June 13, 5.30 p.m.) The “Times” Ottawa correspondent states that the- Press Conference, has converted a section of tho Canadian press recently disposed to make light of the prospects of war. The speeches of Lord Rosebery, Sir Edward Grey, and others have created a profound impression, and all newspapers nnite in stating that Canada must realise her defence responsibilities."