EMPIRE DELEGATES' LABOURS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 126, 24 November 1926, Page 9

EMPIRE DELEGATES' LABOURS

CREDIT FOR NEW REPORT

LARGE SHARE TO MR. BRUCE

(United Press Association. —Copyright.) LONDON, 22nd November. With the sitting at 3 o'clock to-mor-row what will become known as "The Silent Conference" will end. Tho Dominions Office hopes the same evening to issue a comprehensive official report on the whole proceedings. There will also be an outstanding report on Imperial Defence, and another dealing with speedier sea transit and mails, but the latter is likely to be inconclusive, merery stating the necessity for watching developments in the methods of propulsion. MR. BRUCE'S SHARE. Meanwhile the report of the InterImperial Relations Committee continues to be widely discussed. There is comment in Australian circles on how closely it fits the policy outlined by Mr. Bruce at a private welcoming lunch at Australia House immediately after his arrival. Those intimately in touch with the Conference give Mr. Bruce a large share of credit for the happy result of the Conference, and describe Mr. Coates also as a quiet, persistent helper in achieving a better defined unity. It is remarked that both Australia and New Zealand were in the happy position of knowing that nothing conceded to others in any way affected their conception of the Imperial 'relationship. Mr. Bruce said to-night: "It is a very great report, and will unquestionably do much to remove from the arena of active political discussion questions which previously caused much anxiety.'' THE NEW FOEMTJL A. The first symbol of the new Imperial relationship is contained in to-night's air communications report in the phrase "His Majesty's Government in Australia," a^id the same phraseology is used regarding South Africa. This report will be of historic value as the first State document containing the new formula. The non-committal allusion to Locarno in the report was what was most expected. Mr. Bruce thinks resort to a contracting out clause will not be necessary under the new definition on foreign relations. Another authority describes it as a case now of "all in or nothing." The Australian Press Association gathers that the consensus of opinion was that it was inadvisable to deny Britain the right of extending hospitality during the conferences, unless public opinion was shown to be hostile to that course. It is pointed out that all the Dominions are jealous of their right to entertain visiting British delegations. OFIICIALS IN LONDON. Highly placed personages are discussing the possibility of the Dominions in the future having special officials in London for purposes of consultation on foreign affairs, likewise Britain having commissioners in the Dominions for the same purpose. A new departure, however, is not contemplated immediately. Mr. Bruce envisages the possibility of an inter-State Conference in the near future to discuss methods of solving migration difficulties, but he would prefer to see them first thrashed out with the Migration Development committee. ! In the meantime, Mr. Gepp, at Mr. Bruce Js request, is investigating the possibility of using caterpillar tractors such as seen at Camberley on 13th November for the conveyance, of materials for development work in roadless areas or carting -water in time 'of drought.