ATTACK BY MR. SAVAGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 135, 9 June 1937, Page 11

ATTACK BY MR. SAVAGE

CANADIAN PREMIER

SOME PLAIN SPEAKING

FOREIGN POLICY

NEW ZEALAND'S DEFENCE OF

LEAGUE

United Press Association.—By Electric Telß--cvaph.—Copyright. (Received June 9, noon.)

LONDON, June 8.

Arising from the difficulties raised, by the Prime Minister of Canada, Mr. W. L. Mackenzie King, at the Imperial Conference, cpneerning Canada's attitude towards foreign policy, the political correspondent of the Australian Press agency understands that some of the plainest speaking during the Conference occurred when the principal delegates were endeavouring to formulate the foreign policy resolutions and were dealing with the resolutions as amended after yesterday's discussion.

It is gathered that Mr. M. J. Savage (New Zealand), in a vigorous speech, and using frank language, directly attacked Mr. Mackenzie King' 9 attitude, pointing out that while New Zealand's attitude was clear, namely, that she was ready at any time to defend the Empire to the utmost, it wai obvious that Mr. Mackenzie King, whatever the Conference might agree to, would net support it if it involved Canada in any definite undertaking of foreign policy. Apparently Mr. Savage further intimated that Mr. Mackenzie King and the Conference could rest assured that New Zealand was not going to do anything which meant killing the League of Nations, even though Mr. Mackenzie King was apparently willing to sacrifice the League.

It is just possible that the deep impression Mr.. Savage created might cause Mr. Mackenzie King to be to some extent overruled.

Mr. Savage's speech was followed by that of the Dominions Secretary, Mr. Malcolm Mac Donald, who. called on Mr. Savage at the Savoy Hotel tonight to further discuss the position in readiness for the. resumption of the foreign affairs discussions tomorrow.

A cable published yesterday stated that the political writer of the Australian Associated Press agency learned that any possibility of the Imperial Conference adopting important resolutions as an outcome of the .foreign affairs discussions indicating Empire unity on the main issues had vanished as a result of the attitude of Mr. Mackenzie King. It transpired, he stated, that Mr. Mackenzie King had been a stumbling-block throughout, adopting the attitude that Canada was safe under America's wing, and that the rest of the Empire should look.after itself in the best wa,y it could, tt was believed that Mr. Mackenzie. King even went so far as to say that while Canada supported the Empire it was not going to be dragged into any European upset or even into a fight say for Egypt, or perhaps any part of the empire This attitude resulted in tne heads of delegations having -to rerast the foreign policy resolutions drafted as a result of the earlier speeches. .