DOMINION PREMIERS WELCOMED

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 96, 20 October 1926, Page 9

DOMINION PREMIERS WELCOMED

MB. BALDWIN INDICATES SCOPE OF DISCUSSIONS

(Received 20th October, 10 a.m.) I LONDON, 19th October. Mr. Baldwin presided and welcomed the delegates on behalf of the Government. Mr. Mackenzie King replied, and Messrs. Bruce (Australia), Coates (New Zealand), General Hertzog (South Africa), Messrs. Munroe (Newfoundland), Co-grave (Irish Tree State), Burdwan (India), and Amery (Colonial Secretary) followed. The Conference I then opened for business, the members standing when the loyal resolution was passed: "That the Prime Ministers and representatives of the Governments of the British Empire in conference at their first meeting as their first official act respectfully present greet- ■ ings of fidelity to Your Majesty, and earnestly hope that you and the Queen be long spared to strengthen the ties of devotion and unity of the British peoples of the British com- | monwealth under the Crown." The Conference has arranged for publicity similar to that adopted in 1923 and further agreed on a joint secretariat. Mr. Baldwin paid a tribute to the memory of the late Mr. Massey and Marquess Curzon, who made great contributions to previous Imperial Conferences. Mr. Baldwin recalled th 6' work of the previous Conferences in changing and developing the relations of the component parts of the Empire. He indicated that the present discussions would cover the entire Imperial and inter-Imperial policy with a view of discovering how the Dominions could be knit more closely with one another and with the Mother Country, and how means of communication and consultation could- be made more effective, trade increased, and economic possibilities mutually developed.

TRIBUTES TO MAKQUESS CURZON AND MR. MASSEY

The Imperial Conference opened yesterday in London with formal proceedings, the Dominion Premiers, including Mr. Coates, replying to the welcome of the British Prime Minister, Mr. Baldwin, who presided. The scope and aim of the Conference were briefly outlined by the Chairman.