THE PREMIER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 246, 29 July 1937, Page 6

THE PREMIER

BACK FROM ENGLAND.

REVIEW OF EMPIRE CONFERENCE DISCUSSIONS OF PROBLEMS.

THE NEW ZEALAND VIEWPOINT. MR SAVAGE AND CAUSES OF WAR (Per Press Association.) ' WELLINGTON, July 28. In a statement on his return to

Wellington by the Rangitata today the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) reviewed the discussions at the recent Imperial Conference. He said he was in some respects disapponted, but was nevertheless convinced that such conferences performed a necessary function, and that it was essential for the Prime Minister of New Zealand to he present at them. Mr Savage explained in detail tke views advanced by him on behalf of New Zealand on foreign affairs and defence, emphasising that past wars had invariably had an economic basis, and that international efforts should he made to remove these economic causes of conflict.

The Coronation, Mr Savage said, convinced him of the loyalty of all to the Throne and its present occupants, and to the Parliamentary system of government.

Mr Savage returned this afternoon from his visit to England, where, with the Hon. Walter Nash (Minister for Finance) and Mr W. J. Jordan (High Commissioner) he represented New Zealahd at the Coronation celebrations and at the Imperial Conference. Mr Savage said that he was greatly impressed by the Coronation ceremonies and by the evidence they afforded of the importance of the Crown to the British Commonwealth, and of the esteem and affection in which their Majesties are universally held. “Nothing could ha.ve been more moving,” said Mr Savage, “than the spontaneous and enthusiastic expression of the nation’s loyalty. I had the privilege of meeting their Majesties on frequent occasions, arid I am convinced that they will maintain imdiminished the highest traditions of their great office. “Coronation Day in London was a sight never to be forgotten. Millions of smiling faces lined the route to the Abbey. The atmosphere of universal happiness and rejoicing, the unbounded good humour of the people, and the undoubted evidence on all sides of loyalty to the Throne, to its present occupants, and to the Parliamentary system of government will live long in my memory. It was a great privilege and a pleasure to me to he present. Difficult Subjects. “Immediately after the Coronation the Imperial Conference commenced its consideration of the many difficult and important matters on its agenda. This was, of course, the first Imperial Conference that I have attended. While I was in some respects disappointed, I am nevertheless convinced that such conferences perform a useful, indeed, a necessary function, and that their Value cannot he entirely measured by the immediate results.

“The first and most important subjects for consideration were those of foreign affairs and defence. With the full approval of my colleagues, I expressed at some length the views of New Zealand on foreign affairs, always paying due regard to the facts that we are a small and isolated people, and that his Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom is much more directly and immediately affected by world movements, and has much superior facilities for farming a considered and accurate judgment. Nevertheless, I expressed our view that mistakes—and grievous mistakes —had in the past been made in the foreign policy of the Commonwealth. I made no criticism; on the contrary I definitely affirmed the fact that in the great majority of instances —though not in all—New Zealand had been a consenting party to the steps that had been taken, and that for our part we were prepared to accept our full sare of the responsibility for everything that had been done in the past. We felt, however, that this was an occasion for a full consideration of the whole subject, and that the Commonwealth should aim at a generallyaccepted Commonwealth policy, for which purposes greater facilities should

be provided far mutual consultation than had previously existed. 1 pointed out in detail where, in our view, errors of judgment had occurred, and I emphasised that in our opinion the cause of peace, to which every single portion of the Commonwealth was devoted, could best be served by an earnest attempt to face realities, and to lay down and publish to the world the lines which, as a united Commonwealth, we intended to follow in the future. Cause of Wars. J “In this connection I advanced two proposals. In the first place I emphasised that disputes between nations, leading as they have in the past to war, have invariably had an economic basis, and I urged that this fact should receive its due consideration, and that concerted international effort should he made to rectify and remove the economic causes of conflict. I urged the desirability, indeed the necessity, of so raising the general standard of living that the working man throughout the world should be enabled to purchase to the same extent as he produced, and I expressed the view' that once this had been effected, it

would be found that the major possibilities of international conflict would have disappeared. “As my second point, I re-emphasised the policy expressed on behalf -of New Zealand ‘at the last Assembly of the League of Nations—which we still hold—and I reaffirmed our view that until it' had been possible to remove economic injustices, it was essential that the collective peace system Established at Geneva should bo made effective. The covenant of the League we felt, was an entirely adequate instrument for this purpose, and I urged that every possible step should be taken by the members of the British Commonwealth, in co-operation with other members of the League holding these views, to make the covenant a reality, and if necessary to strengthen it. We saw, I said, no alternative in the existing state of the world, and we felt that there could be no final end to the miseries of war until those nations that loved peace had made it abundantly clear that they were determined to maintain it, if necessary by force.

Views on Defence. “On the subject of defence, the viewpoint of New Zealand was that just as we felt the Commonwealth should have a common foreign policy, so we agreed it must have a common defence policy. We made it plain that in the consideration of this subject in New Zealand we were concerned not only with the defence of our own shores, and our own people, but also with the defence of the whole British Commonwealth. During the conference we had the advantage of long and detailed discussions on this subject, .not only with His Majesty’s Ministers in the United Kingdom but also with the responsible heads of tiie British services, and I wish to say how greatly I appreciate the extreme helpfulness of everybody concerned, and their anxiety not to force on any Dominion Government a policy that might not be acceptable to the Government, Parliament, or people of that Dominion, and the complete and generous frankness with which every possible piece of information was placed at our disposal. lam convinced that New Zealand will benefit very greatly indeed from this aspect of the work of the conference.

“Linked in one sense with the question of defence were the inter-con-nected subjects, trade and migration. Long discussions took place on the question of trade generally, not only within the Commonwealth, but also from the international point of view. Mr Nash had, of course, been engaged with great energy on these subjects for some time before my arrival, and, indeed, the discussions are continuing. “On the subject of migration I made it plain that the New Zealand Government could not, if only from the point of view of the migrants themselves, embark on a renewed policy of migration until it was clear what, on their arrival in New Zealand, the migrants were to do. Clearly in a country which is peculiarly suitable for primary production, migrants would normally be placed on the land, and I made it quite plain that until it was clear that a market was available for the additional produce that would result there could be no advantage to be gained by such a transfer of population. We had detailed discussions on the subject with the Overseas Settlement Board, of which Lord Hartingdon is chairman, and the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, Mr Malcolm MacDonald, is arranging to set up all the necessary machinery in order that it may be available for immediate application' as soon as circumstances allow of the renewed migration which we all desire. In this connection I reaffirmed the policy which wg had already expressed, namely, that to the extent that the United Kingdom would purchase the expanding primary products of New Zealand we, for our part, would be prepared to devote the whole of the proceeds so derived to; the purchase of goods in the United Kingdom, and I added that if New Zealand could find no market for her expanding primary produce it would be essential for us to endeavour to facilitate a more balanced economy in New Zealand by building up local manufacturing industries, and thus extending our internal market. Shipping and Air Services.

“One matter discussed at the conference which is of great importance to New Zealand was that of shipping, and as a result of those discussions it seems clear that modern vessels under the British flag will be available for the trans-Pacific seryice at no very distant date.

“The question of air transport also received long consideration, and while the discussions were not finally concluded, it is probable that in this case also air transport between all portions of the Commonwealth will be in operation in the near future.

“I need not say,” said Mr Savage, “how happy I am to be back in New Zealand, where I feel I belong, and where the foundations of all our activities must be laid. This experience has been most interesting and most valuable to me, and while at this conference, as in the case of most conferences, one could not help feeling that there was some reluctance to approach realities, and actually to tackle the problems involved, I am nevertheless convinced that some useful worn was done, and that it is essential that the Prime Minister for New Zealand,’ whoever he may he, should he present at such gatherings. “I cannot conclude without referring to the warm and generous hospitality that was extended on all sides to myself, my colleagues and staff. Nothing could have exceeded the kindness with which we were received in all quarters, and the personal contacts facilitated by such visits are not the least valuable aspect.

“I am very grateful to my colleagues in. New Zealand for the extra work and responsibility which they h&ve so ably undertaken during my absence. It must have entailed a good deal of strain and placed a heavy burden upon them.”