Lord Salisbury has replied to the request of Lord Rosebery
(who is the President of the Imperial Federation League) that he would receive a deputation from the League, to take into consideration the advisability of summoning a Colonial Conference to meet in London for the purpose of considering a scheme of federation. Lord Salisbury promises to receive the deputation, but thinks the Colonies might arrange such a Conference for themselves, and holds out no hope that the Government can take so serious a step as to summon it, which would imply, as he points out, that the Government have con- sidered the subject, and have proposals, which they think more or less practicable, to make to such a Conference. To this Lord Rosebery (whose reply is published with Lord Salisbury's letter in last Saturday's Times) makes answer that the Colonies would never think of arranging such a Conference without the initiative of the British Government, and would think it improper to propose it ; that the Queen's Speech in 1886 had declared that "there is on all sides a growing desire to draw closer in every practicable way the bonds which unite the various portions of the Empire ;" and that the First Lord of the Treasury, the Right Hon. W. H. Smith, had moved a reso- lution five years ago that, "in order to avert disintegration, and to secure the permanent unity of the Empire, some form of federation is indispensable." All this is true ; but the alliance already agreed upon for the defence of the Colonies is a very fair fulfilment of the aspiration contained in the Queen's Speech of 1888; while the words of Mr. W. H. Smith's resolution obviously go far beyond anything for which as yet either the Colonies or the people of this country are prepared. It is quite safe to desire a union of hearts ; but when it comes to undertaking a union of hands, it is a matter of the utmost importance whose hand you are to grasp, and whither are bent the steps of him to whose hand you commit yourself.
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