New Conception Of British Empire

Chronicle (Levin), 9 October 1948, Page 5

New Conception Of British Empire

Received Fridav, S.50 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 8. Mr. Oliver Stanlev told delegates at the Conservative Party's biggest rally that work was far advanced on an Im perial ('barter. IIo said tliat doubts had been expressed about the effect oi' a United Europe on Britain's relations with the Empire. "If we had to choose between Europe and the Empire we would say: 'We choose the Empire.' But it is out hope and belief that the Empire is going to be one of the principal gainers from a United Europe. ' ' « Mr. .John Campbell moved that the Conservative Party work towards. a new conception of Empire as the oue great strategic and economic whole. The ex-War Minister, Mr. Hore Belisha, seconding, said Commonwealtli defence was the conference 's whole keynote. Britain was more vulnerablo than ever. Bispersa! over the whole of the Commonwealth was not possible until economic unity within the Commonwealth had been achieved. Mr. Campbell 's niotion was unanimousl)- adopted. An increase of party membership by over 1,000,000 and the boosting of the party funds by £1,000,000 was announced to the 4000 cheering delegates at the Conservative Party's annual conference at Llandudno (Wales). Lord Woolton, chairman oi' the party organisation, said that at the eml of 194(5 the niembership1 was 911,1500, by the end of 1947 it was 1,200,000, and as the result of the intensive recruiting drive it grew to 2,249,031 by June, 1948. The conference unanimously adopted a resolution submitted by Lord Woolton: "That the conference, believing national defence to be the direct roneern of all classes and parties, urges uncpialified support to the present anned forces recruiting campaign. " The conference pledged the Conservatives' ntmost efforts for denunciation of the Ueneva trade treatv and non ratilication of the Havana Charter in so far as the two paets limited, or eontemplated a limitation of, the preferen tial sv stem. Another resolution demanded that the question of the nationalisation of steel should be put to the country andaction deferred until the people gave a new mandate. Mr. Oliver Lyttelton told the conference that the Government was split over the steel nationalisation issue. "The extreme Soeialists in the Cab-iiu-t iiiust press for more Wocialism, while the moderates say: ' Let us have one little success in nationalisation before we niove further. ' The Conser vat:\ e- fear that there soon will be too few private enterprises to pay the losses of nationalised coal, gas, electrie itv and transport. "