The 1887 Colonial Conference met in London in 1887 on the occasion of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. It was organised at the behest of the Imperial Federation League in hopes of creating closer ties between the colonies and the United Kingdom. It was attended by more than 100 delegates, mostly unofficial observers, from both self-governing and dependent colonies. India, however, was not represented.[1]
Among other things discussed, the colonies in Australia and New Zealand agreed to pay £126,000 per annum towards the Royal Navy to help pay for the United Kingdom's naval deployments in the Pacific. In exchange, the British government agreed not to reduce its Pacific Station without colonial consent.[2]
A proposal to lay a telegraph cable between Vancouver and Australia was approved. A Resolution to extend the Queen's title to "Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Colonies, and all Dependencies thereof, and Empress of India" was also adopted.[3]
The conference was only a deliberative body and resolutions passed were not binding.[1] While this was the case and the conference itself was not established by law, it was seen as a formal step in the process of consultation concerning imperial policy and legislation.[4]
In his opening address, Lord Salisbury cited the importance of mutual defense but also maintained his opposition to the creation of a federation, deeming it impractical.[1] He explained that attempts at constitution-making is not feasible because such imperial federation could not conduct its affairs from one center.[6] Some colonies also threatened to boycott debates about such measure.[6]
Proceedings of the Colonial Conference 1887. Command papers. Vol. C.5091. London: Harrison & Sons for HMSO. July 1887. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
Citations
^ abcdOlson, James S., ed. (1991). Historical Dictionary of European Imperialism. Greenwood Press. pp. 135–136. ISBN0-3132-6257-8.
^The Cambridge History of the British Empire, Volume 4. Cambridge University Press. 1929. p. 409.
^"Gladstone's Motion Lost" (PDF). New York Times. 7 May 1887. second last paragraph.
^Grotke, Kelly L.; Prutsch, Markus J. (2014). Constitutionalism, Legitimacy, and Power: Nineteenth-Century Experiences. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN9780198723059.
^"Proceedings of the Colonial Conference at London, in 1887: In Relation to Imperial Postal and Telegraphic Communications Through Canada". 1888.
^ abMadden, A. F.; Fieldhouse, David Kenneth (1985). Settler Self-government, 1840-1900: The Development of Representative and Responsible Government. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 31. ISBN031327326X.
All Red Line - the eventual network of telegraph cables connecting the British Empire.
January 07, 2023
1887, colonial, conference, london, 1887, occasion, queen, victoria, golden, jubilee, organised, behest, imperial, federation, league, hopes, creating, closer, ties, between, colonies, united, kingdom, attended, more, than, delegates, mostly, unofficial, obser. The 1887 Colonial Conference met in London in 1887 on the occasion of Queen Victoria s Golden Jubilee It was organised at the behest of the Imperial Federation League in hopes of creating closer ties between the colonies and the United Kingdom It was attended by more than 100 delegates mostly unofficial observers from both self governing and dependent colonies India however was not represented 1 1887 Colonial ConferenceAttending representatives Host countryUnited KingdomDates4 April 6 May 1887CitiesLondonChairSir Henry Thurston Holland Secretary of State for the Colonies Precedes1894Key pointsImperial co operation Naval defence Pacific telegraph cable Royal titleAmong other things discussed the colonies in Australia and New Zealand agreed to pay 126 000 per annum towards the Royal Navy to help pay for the United Kingdom s naval deployments in the Pacific In exchange the British government agreed not to reduce its Pacific Station without colonial consent 2 A proposal to lay a telegraph cable between Vancouver and Australia was approved A Resolution to extend the Queen s title to Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain Ireland and the Colonies and all Dependencies thereof and Empress of India was also adopted 3 The conference was only a deliberative body and resolutions passed were not binding 1 While this was the case and the conference itself was not established by law it was seen as a formal step in the process of consultation concerning imperial policy and legislation 4 Contents 1 Participants 2 References 2 1 Sources 2 2 Citations 3 See alsoParticipants EditThe conference was hosted by Queen Victoria Empress of India and her Prime Minister Lord Salisbury with Sir Henry Thurston Holland Secretary of State for the Colonies acting as chair and the Premiers and other representatives of various colonies as delegates The colonies invited to send delegates were Newfoundland Colony Canada Colony of New South Wales Colony of Tasmania Cape of Good Hope South Australia the Colony of New Zealand Victoria Queensland Western Australia and Natal Colony Various other colonies were invited to send representatives to the opening ceremonies but not participate as delegates William A Baillie Hamilton the Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for the Colonies acted as Secretary to the Conference 5 The delegates were only able to agree on the most general programs towards closer cooperation 1 In his opening address Lord Salisbury cited the importance of mutual defense but also maintained his opposition to the creation of a federation deeming it impractical 1 He explained that attempts at constitution making is not feasible because such imperial federation could not conduct its affairs from one center 6 Some colonies also threatened to boycott debates about such measure 6 Nation Name Portfolio United Kingdom Sir Henry Thurston Holland Secretary of State for the Colonies President Lord Salisbury Prime Minister of the United KingdomThe Earl Cadogan Lord Privy SealW H Smith First Lord of the TreasuryEdward Stanhope Secretary of State for WarLord George Hamilton First Lord of the AdmiraltyThe Viscount Cross Secretary of State for IndiaThe Lord Stanley of Preston President of the Board of TradeHenry Cecil Raikes Postmaster GeneralThe Earl of Onslow Under Secretary of State for the ColoniesSir James Fegusson Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Canada Sir Alexander Campbell former Canadian senator for OntarioSanford Fleming engineer Newfoundland Colony Sir Robert Thorburn PremierSir Ambrose Shea Leader of the Opposition Colony of New South Wales Sir Patrick Jennings former PremierSir Robert Wisdom former Attorney GeneralSir Saul Samuel Agent General Colony of Tasmania John Stokell Dodds former Attorney GeneralAdye Douglas Agent General Cape Colony Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr Member of the Cape House of Assembly South Australia Sir John Downer PremierSir Arthur Blyth Agent General Colony of New Zealand Sir Dillon Bell Agent GeneralSir William Fitzherbert Speaker of the New Zealand Legislative Council Victoria Alfred Deakin Chief SecretarySir James Lorimer Minister of DefenceSir Graham Berry Agent GeneralJames Service former Premier of Victoria Queensland Sir Samuel Griffith PremierSir James Francis Garrick Agent General Western Australia John Forrest Surveyor General and Commissioner of Crown LandsSeptimus Burt former Attorney General Natal John Robinson Member of the Natal Legislative CouncilReferences EditSources Edit Proceedings of the Colonial Conference 1887 Command papers Vol C 5091 London Harrison amp Sons for HMSO July 1887 Retrieved 13 March 2020 Citations Edit a b c d Olson James S ed 1991 Historical Dictionary of European Imperialism Greenwood Press pp 135 136 ISBN 0 3132 6257 8 The Cambridge History of the British Empire Volume 4 Cambridge University Press 1929 p 409 Gladstone s Motion Lost PDF New York Times 7 May 1887 second last paragraph Grotke Kelly L Prutsch Markus J 2014 Constitutionalism Legitimacy and Power Nineteenth Century Experiences Oxford Oxford University Press ISBN 9780198723059 Proceedings of the Colonial Conference at London in 1887 In Relation to Imperial Postal and Telegraphic Communications Through Canada 1888 a b Madden A F Fieldhouse David Kenneth 1985 Settler Self government 1840 1900 The Development of Representative and Responsible Government Westport CT Greenwood Publishing Group p 31 ISBN 031327326X Hansard 25 March 1887See also EditImperial Conference All Red Line the eventual network of telegraph cables connecting the British Empire Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1887 Colonial Conference amp oldid 1125423441, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
