1911 Imperial Conference


The 1911 Imperial Conference convened in London on 23 May 1911 and concluded on 20 June 1911. It was held to mark the occasion of the Coronation of George V on 22 June 1911.
The conference discussed Empire-wide constitutional arrangements with proposals by New Zealand's prime minister Sir Joseph Ward for an imperial council made up of representatives of the dominions which would advise the British government on imperial matters. Ward developed this idea into a proposal for an Imperial Parliament which would be responsible for the Empire's foreign policy including the declaration of war and would be presided over by an Imperial executive. British prime minister H. H. Asquith rejected these proposals as infringing on British autonomy in making foreign policy but he agreed it was necessary to consult with dominion prime ministers on certain matters. Asquith proposed a standing committee on foreign affairs but the dominion prime ministers could not agree on a final resolution.
The conference came to an agreement on the negotiation of treaties that affect various dominions and that the British government would consult the dominions when preparing its proposals for proposed international Peace Conferences and that future international peace treaties and some international agreements would be circulated to the dominions for comment prior to the British government signing them.
Australia expressed concern about Japan's growing naval power and it was agreed that the British government would consult Australia when negotiating renewal of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. Britain also agreed to consult South Africa about negotiations with Germany considering its colonial aspirations in Africa.

Participants

The conference was hosted by King-Emperor George V, with his Prime Ministers and members of their respective cabinets:
NationNamePortfolio
United KingdomH. H. AsquithPrime Minister
United KingdomLewis HarcourtSecretary of State for the Colonies
United KingdomDavid Lloyd GeorgeChancellor of the Exchequer
United KingdomSir Edward GreyForeign Secretary
United KingdomLord LoreburnLord Chancellor
United KingdomViscount HaldaneSecretary of State for War
United KingdomSydney Buxton,President of the Board of Trade
United KingdomWinston ChurchillHome Secretary
United KingdomHerbert SamuelPostmaster General of the United Kingdom
United KingdomSir Rufus IsaacsAttorney General for England and Wales
United KingdomJohn BurnsPresident of the Local Government Board
United KingdomThomas McKinnon WoodUnder-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
AustraliaAndrew FisherPrime Minister
AustraliaEgerton Lee BatchelorMinister for External Affairs
AustraliaGeorge PearceMinister for Defence
Sir Wilfrid LaurierPrime Minister
Sir Frederick William BordenMinister of Militia and Defence
Sir Louis-Philippe BrodeurMinister of Marine and Fisheries
Sir E. P. MorrisPrime Minister
Robert WatsonColonial Secretary
New ZealandSir Joseph WardPrime Minister
New ZealandJohn FindlayMinister of Justice and Attorney-General
Union of South AfricaLouis BothaPrime Minister
Union of South AfricaF. S. MalanMinister of Education
Union of South AfricaSir David Pieter de Villiers GraaffMinister of Public Works and of Posts and Telegraphs