IMPERIAL WAR CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16225, 4 July 1918, Page 7

IMPERIAL WAR CONFERENCE.

SUMMARY OF BUSINESS

His Excellency tho Governor-General has received tne following summary of tne proceedings of tiio imperial \Var Conference (luring tho week ending June Uyth, from liio Secretary of Statu for tho Colonics:—

The Imperial War Conference has been bngagod almost exclusively during the fourth, fifth, and sixth meetings, held on Juno 2Gth, and 28th, in continuing discussions on various phases of the post-war economic policy begun last week. Tho first subject on which a resolution was passed dealt with the recent No '-ferrous Metal Industry Act of tho United Kingdom, and tho question of similar legislation by the Overseas Dominions. This resolution was to the effect that in pursuanco of the policy of freeing the Empire from dependence on German-controlled organisations in rospect of non-ferrous metals and ores, the conference endorses the principle of tho Non-forrous Metal Industry Act of tho United Kingdom, and recommends the Governments of the Empire to adopt ofroctivo measures in so far as these may be necessary and have not already been taken to carry out this policy. The next proposal related to the measures necessary to socure for the British Empire and belligerent Allies the command of certain essential raw materials to onablo them to repair the effects of tho wnr as soon as possible, and safeguard tlieir industrial requirements The conference agrocd that this course was no~ossary, and expresso:l the opinion that the Governments of tho British Empire should make such arrangements among themselves; as will onsuro thnt osscnt'al raw materials produced within the Empire shall be availphlo for the purposes named above, and siioulrl nrraneo with Allied countries to utilise for the same purposes ossontial i*rnv materials produced in those countries.

A further resolution in connexion with the sarin question rrvommondwl th.it a committer of members of the confomnrc should first consider tho ■nossililo methods of each pnrfc of the "Ermire obtaining command of the essential raw materials refori'orl to in tho previous resolution, and that Governments ronrnscntfrl at the Conference should." in the hVht of thr> information collectcd hv their on this committee, consult with renrewntatives of nrorlnorvrs and trades concorned as to TtWNnrle of ohtrpni""<rcommand suited to onch individual commodity.