JOHN BULL AND CO.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3246, 16 June 1911, Page 5

JOHN BULL AND CO.

HICHER AND TRUER IMPERIAL-

ISM.

ADDRESS BY SIR JOSEPH WARD

[UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, June 14.

Lord Selborne presided when Sir Joseph Ward addressed the Royal Geological Institute on liigher and timer Imperialism. Sir Joseph Ward made an urgent plea for an Imperial Council. Some day it Avould be impossible for the British alone to maintain the majestic supremacy of the seas. The dominions equally \A'ould be unable Avholly to defend themselves from foreign, aggression. , Lord Selborne said that they must be prepared to see the centre of grayitv of the Empire pass from the United Kingdom to some other part of the Empire" While Englishmen felt less free to discuss the problem of federation when dominion statesmen presented a prepared scheme, many Britishers would bo prepared to give their political lives to support it. The Westminster Gazette states that the one decisive answer of Sir Joseph Ward showed that he feared disintegration unless closer unity in governing institutions was effected. As long as Britain was strong enough at- sea to prevent an enemy attacking the Dominions, no suclx questions would arise, and therefore the question of a navy from Alpha to Omega was the British policy. The Pall Mall Gazette strongly supports Sir Joseph Ward’s contention that if there is no closer council of Empire than a. gathering of Premiers once every four years, the outlook fox' Imperial unity is grave and clouded. It adds that Sir Joseph Ward declines to believe that the Empire can shuffle along with nothing but sentimental ties, and still maintain unity under concrete ordeals-