EMPIRE POLICY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 122, 25 May 1937, Page 10

EMPIRE POLICY

CONSIDERATION BY IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

MINISTER'S SURVEY

inrltlsh OflMiii wireless.) (Received May 25, 2 p.m.) ; RUGBY, May 24. The fifth meeting of the principal delegates to the 'Imperial Conference took place in the~Prime Minister's room at the House of Commons this afternoon, when consideration of- tha question of defence was begun. Mr. J. A. Lyons'(Australia) presided. •. . The discussion was opened" by the Minister for Co-ordination of Defence, Sir Thomas Inskip, who was followed by Mr. Lan Mackenzie, Minister, of Rational Defence for Canada,- and .Sir Archdale Parkhill, Minister for 'Dafence of Australia. " ' ~ Mr. Stanley Baldwin was; unable to attend owing to. another engagement, and Mr. W. L. Mackenzie King (Canada), was absent owing to a slight cold. The question of defence being under consideration, Lord Swinton.ASecretary for Air, and Mr. A. Duff Cooper, Secretary for War, attended,, but owing to a slight indisposition Sir Samuel Hoare, First Lord of the Admiralty, was not present. ' . Sir Thomas Inskip spoke for nearly an hour and, gave a comprehensive survey of the defence problems, and- outlined the policy' of the United Kingdom Government. Mr. Mackenzie and Sir.- Archdala Parkhill each dealt with problems from their respective points. of view. The meeting, which lasted for about two hours, was adjourned until tomorrow morning, when speeches will b« made on behalf of New Zealand, South Africa, and India.