This Pamphlet is issued by the General Committee of the League for the information of persons desirous of founding Branches in any part of the Empire. It contains a summary of the objects and constitution of the League, as laid down at the Conference held on Nov. 18 th, 1834, and also brief suggestions as to the formation and organisation of Branches, drawn up in conformity with the resolutions then passed.
Imperial Federation League.
Nature and Objects of the League.
At
a Conference on Imperial Federation, held in London on Tuesday, 29th July, 1884, the Right Hon.W. E. Forster
, M. P., in the chair, it was unanimously resolved—1. | That in order to secure the permanent unity of the Empire, some form of Federation is essential. |
2. | That for the purpose of influencing public opinion, both in the United Kingdom and the Colonies, by showing the incalculable advantages which will accrue to the whole Empire from the adoption of such a system of organisation, a Society be firmed of men of all parties, to advocate and support the principle of Federation. |
3. | That this Conference refers to a Provisional Committee all details connected with the establishment and organisation of such a Society, for a report thereon to be submitted for the consideration and approval of an adjourned Conference, to be held at a suitable period in the coming Autumn. |
1. | That a Society be now formed, to be called "The Imperial Federation League." |
2. | That the object of the league be to secure by Federation the permanent unity of the Empire. |
3. | That no scheme of Federation should interfere with the existing rights of Local Parliaments as regards local affairs. |
4. | That any scheme of Imperial. Federation should combine on an equitable basis the resources of the Empire for the maintenance of common interests, and adequately provide for an organised defence of common rights. |
5. | That the League use every constitutional means to bring about the object for which it is formed, and invite the support of men of all political parties. |
6. | That the Membership of the League be open to any British subject who accepts the principles of the League, and pays a yearly registration fee of one shilling. |
7. | That donations and subscriptions be invited for providing means for conducting the business of the League. |
8. | That British subjects throughout the Empire be invited to become members, and to form and organise branches of the League. |
9. | That an Annual General Meeting of the League be held in London. |
10. | That the affairs of the League until its next General Meeting be conducted by a General Committee. |
11. | That the General Committee be now appointed, with power to add to its number. |
12. | That the Branches of the League be empowered to appoint representatives to act on the General Committee. |
13. | That the General Committee shall furnish a report to the next Meeting of the League. |
Formation of Branches, and Enrolment of Members.
No. 6. "That the Membership of the League be open to any British subject who accepts the principles of the League, and pays a yearly registration fee of one shilling."
No. 8. "That British subjects throughout the Empire be invited to become members, and to form and organise Branches of the League."
British subjects forming any Association to promote the objects of the Imperial Federation League, and desiring to have such Association affiliated as a Branch of the League, are requested to be good enough to communicate, through their Chairman, or other duly appointed officer, with
The Secretary,
Imperial federation League,
43, St. Margaret's Offices,
Victoria Street,
London, S.W.
Annual registration fees paid before the 1st of January, 1885, will be considered as paid for the whole year 1885.
N.B.—It is to be observed by all members of the League, and by all sympathisers with the movement, that the "annual registration fee" has been fixed at the small sum of one shilling, so as to admit of all classes of the community joining the League.
The Imperial Federation League, therefore, relies on voluntary aid. Although the General Committee only require the "annual registration fees" to be sent from Branches, still, considering the heavy expenditure which will have to be incurred in carrying out the objects of the League, they will thankfully receive contributions from the Branches as well as from private individuals.
Publications of the Imperial Federation League.
Report of the Conference on Imperial
Federation, held July 29th, 1884. Price 6d.
Report of the Adjourned Conference and First Meeting of the League, Nov. 18, 1884. Price 2d.
Information for the Use of Branches. Price id.
The above may be had on thick paper in wrapper, or on thin paper for Colonial and Foreign circulation.
"There is no more idle conception, among all the vain imaginations that fill the atmosphere of Politics, than the conception which now and then finds vent, that there are in this country a party of men who are insensible to the great dignity and the great duties connected with the maintenance of the Colonial Empire of England. There have been superstitions gathering round the nature of that Empire. It may have been valued in wrong ways; but there is no man, I believe, worthy of the name of a statesman—no man known to me in the sphere of political life—who is not sensible that the business of founding and of cherishing those Colonics is one which has been so distinctly entrusted by Providence to the care of the people of this country, that we should almost as soon think of renouncing the very name of Englishmen, as of renouncing the very great duties which, passing beyond the seas, are imposed upon us with regard to the more distant, but not less dear, portions of this great British Empire."
—Speech of Mr. Gladstone at the Mansion House, August 7, 1881.
"In my opinion no minister in this country will do his duty who neglects any opportunity of re-constructing, as much as possible, our Colonial Empire, and of responding to those distant sympathies which may become the source of incalculable strength and happiness to this land."
—Speech of Mr. Disraeli, 1872.