AN IMPERIAL PRESS CONFERENCE.
[To THE EDITOR OF TEl SPECTATOR-] Sig,—Will you allow me to call the attention of your readers to a proposal which I feel confident will engage their unreserved sympathy P Imperial Conferences and meetings of many kinds have been held of late years ; but there is one which still remains to be convened. The representatives of the newspapers of the British Empire have never yet found the opportunity of making acquaintance with one another, and exchanging views on those political and professional topics in which they are interested. Considering the great and growing importance of the part played by the Press in all the States of the Empire, there can be no body of persons whom it is more desirable to bring into personal contact than those who are charged with the conduct of the great organs of public opinion in all the diverse portions of the Imperial realm. A serious attempt is now to be made to attain this end. It is proposed that at the end of next May the editors of the principal newspapers of the British Empire beyond the seas shall be invite I to this country as the guests of the Press of Great Britain. A. strong Committee, with Lord Burnham as president, Lord North- cliffe as honorary treasurer, Mr. C. Arthur Pearson as chairman of the Executive, and myself as honorary secretary, has been formed to promote this object. We hope that the invitation will be accepted by the most influential journalists of the self-governing States of the Empire, by those of India and the other Imperial depen- dencies, and by those of the Crown Colonies. Facilities will be
given for the full and free discussion of various questions which interest journalists and publicists. But we do not intend that our energies or the time of our visitors shall be wholly absorbed in these grave matters. Some of the oversea journalists will be visiting Great Britain for the first time ; others will be glad to renew their acquaintance with the Old Country. We hope that they will spend an enjoyable holiday, and carry back pleasant reminiscences of British hospitality ; that they will have the opportunity of inspecting the naval, military, and industrial resources of the Old Country; that they will see something of our social life in its best aspects ; and that they will be brought into touch with many persons of eminence and distinction, as well as with their leading colleagues of the London and provincial Press. Guests and hosts have alike much to learn from this mutual intercourse, which should lead to a better understanding by home journalists of the dominions beyond the seas, and a closer realisation on the part of the visitors of the political, social, and industrial conditions which prevail in these islands. That the occasion, if wisely used, will conduce to the unity and solidarity of the Empire as a whole we entertain no doubt whatever.—I am, Sir, &c., Hiner E. PRITTAIN.
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