1897 Colonial Conference


The 1897 Colonial Conference was a conference between the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the 11 self-governing colonies of the British Empire. The conference was convened in London by Colonial Secretary Joseph Chamberlain in 1897 on the occasion of Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. Chamberlain's intention was to draw the self-governing colonies into closer co-operation with the United Kingdom.
Delegates were sent to the conference by Canada, Newfoundland Colony, New Zealand the Australian self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia, and the South African colonies of Cape Colony and the Colony of Natal.
Chamberlain proposed the creation of a permanent Imperial Council made up of delegates from the colonies to act as an Empire-wide parliament with the power to bind the colonies on imperial matters but this was rejected by the colonies due to fears of loss of autonomy. Chamberlain also propose that colonies increase their contributions to the Royal Navy but only some colonies agreed to increase their contributions and no permanent arrangement was agreed to.
Chamberlain also proposed a customs union between the colonies and Britain while Canada proposed preferential trade but no decision was made by the delegates.

Participants

The conference was hosted by Queen Victoria, with her Colonial Secretary and the Premiers of various colonies:
NationNamePortfolio
United KingdomJoseph ChamberlainSecretary of State for the Colonies
United KingdomThe Earl of SelborneUnder-Secretary of State for the Colonies
United KingdomSir John BramstonAssistant Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies
Sir Wilfrid LaurierPrime Minister
Cape ColonySir John Gordon SpriggPrime Minister
Colony of NatalSir Harry EscombePrime Minister
Newfoundland ColonySir William WhitewayPremier
New South WalesSir George ReidPremier
New ZealandRichard SeddonPrime Minister
QueenslandSir Hugh NelsonPremier
South AustraliaCharles KingstonPremier
TasmaniaSir Edward BraddonPremier
VictoriaSir George TurnerPremier
Western AustraliaSir John ForrestPremier