Prime Ministers All Ready For Vital Talks

Chronicle (Levin), 22 April 1949, Page 5

Prime Ministers All Ready For Vital Talks

. ( N.Z.P.A. -

-Reuter,

Copyright)

Received .9. 55 a.m. LONDON, April 21. The Prime Ministers of the Commonwealth- will begin their vital discussions on India's future co-operation with thgir countries in the Cabinet .room of No. 10 Downipg Street tomorrow morning. The intensive preliminary work for the conference wa^. completed today, when the British Prime Minister, Mr. Attlee", had private talks with fche New Zealand Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, and the Prifiie Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Liaquat A'li Khan, and a 15-minute consultation with the Prime Minister of India, Pandit Nehru. • .Mr. Attlee has now had. taiks with all the visitin'g statesmeni These talks have axtended over three days. Mr. Attlee's objeet has been to discuss the procedure for the full meetings of the Prime Ministers and to get an idea of the Do'minion Prjme Ministers' views on the only question that will come before the conference— ^-India's place as a member of the British Commonwealth after she becomes an independent Republic. It is understood that Mr. Attlee told each Prime Minister that the British Cabinet had an open mind on the question, and that it desired the fullest and frankest discussion of all the issues involved.

^ Strict Secrecy Mr. Attlee is understood to have „ suggested that in the early stages of the conference only the Prime Ministers should take part in the discussions. -He is also understood

9 to have asked for the Prime Ministers' views on publicity. It is known that Mr. Attlee's view is that nothing should be said about the conference until it ends. The conference will be conducted in the strietest secrecy and further, to ensure privacy, special telephones have^been installed in the hotels where the Prime Ministers are staying. The telephones are of the scrambler type, which renders tapping of the wires abortive. °Dr. D. F. Malan (South Africa) is the only Dominion Prime Minister who has not previously attended a Commonwealth meeting at Downing Street. It is understood that his talk with Mr. Attlee was cordial. Mr. Fraser paid a courtesy call on Dr. Malan at his hotel today. Large crowds watched the Dominion Prime Ministers arrive at Downing Street for a sherry party given by Mr, Attlee. This was the first gathering of the Prime Ministers since their arrival in Londoij.