The 1907 Imperial Conference was convened in London on 15 April 1907 and concluded on 14 May 1907. During the sessions a resolution was passed renaming this and future meetings Imperial Conferences. The chairman of the conference was British prime minister Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman.
| 1907 Imperial Conference | |
|---|---|
| Host country |  United Kingdom |
| Dates | 15 April 1907– 14 May 1907 |
| Cities | London |
| Heads of Government | 7 |
| Chair | Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman (Prime Minister) |
| Follows | 1902 Colonial Conference |
| Precedes | 1911 |
| Key points | |
Dominion status, co-ordination of Imperial defence, Irish Home Rule, self-government for India, Imperial preference | |
The conference decided to cease referring to self-governing British colonies as colonies and conferred upon them dominion status. Canada and Australia were referred to as dominions in the conference's statements while Newfoundland Colony and the Colony of New Zealand were granted dominion status by royal proclamation on 26 September. Natal and Cape Colony would unite with the two Boer colonies of Orange River Colony and Transvaal Colony, which had been given self-government in 1907, to form the Union of South Africa as a dominion in 1910.
The possibilities of Irish Home Rule and self-governance for India were also discussed. Imperial preference was raised but rejected by the British prime minister due to British support for free trade.[1][2]
Participants
editThe conference was hosted by King-Emperor Edward VII, with his prime ministers and members of their respective cabinets:[3]
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See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Olson, James Stuart; Shadle, Robert, eds. (1996). Historical Dictionary of the British Empire: A–J. London: Greenwood Publishing. p. 548. ISBN 0-3132-9366-X.
- ^ Kendle, J.E. (1967). The Colonial and Imperial Conferences, 1887–1911: A Study in Imperial Organization. Imperial Studies. Vol. XXVIII. London: Longmans for the Royal Commonwealth Society. ASIN B0000CO3QA. doi:10.1086/ahr/74.3.999.
- ^ Jebb, Richard (1911). The Imperial Conference: A History and Study. Vol. II. London: Longmans, Green & Co.