3-067-099 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Asquith, Balfour and Seddon, 1905. 'Mr. Asquith - Have you written those colonial invitations yet? Mr Balfour - I can conceive no reason for my having done so! Mr Seddon - (unexpectedly, from behind) For me - I think!!'. Herbert Asquith (right) asks Arthur Balfour (centre) whether he has sent out invitations to colonial leaders; Balfour replies that he has not, but Richard Seddon, Prime Minister of New Zealand, enters from the left to claim his invitation. Possibly referring to the Colonial Conference (renamed in 1907 as the Imperial Conference) that eventually took place in London in April-May 1907. Seddon had died in 1906: New Zealand was represented in 1907 by his successor, Sir Joseph Ward.