EMPIRE CONTACTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20086, 4 November 1939, Page 7

EMPIRE CONTACTS

I TALKS BY MINISTERS CO-ORDINATION AIM ENDURING PEACE STRENGTH OF TIES I (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reccl 2.45 p.m. RUGBY, Nov. 2. The consultations between the visiting representatives of the Dominion and Indian Governments and the United Kingdom Ministers were continued to-day, when progress was made in the task of unifying and strengthening the war effort exerted by the British commonwealth as a whole. Individual conversations took place in the morning, particularly on questions concerning civil aviation and shipping. By this means special problems affecting one or two only of the Dominions can, it has been found,

be most expeditiously handled. In the afternoon the strategic needs problems of the Empire as a whole were under review. The oversea representatives were entertained at the Mansion House to luncheon by the Lord Mayor of London. Eager Desire The pronouncements which the representatives of the Dominion and Indian Governments and the press made on the arrival of the Ministers in London gave evidence of the eager desire of these great Dominions to be ranged actively with Great Britain in this time of crisis, and it can be said that the Ministers have carried that spirit of loyal and friendly co-opera-tion into the consultations during the last two days. Speaking in the House of Commons to-day the leader of the Opposition, Major C. R. Attlee, welcomed the Dominion and Indian representatives on behalf of the Opposition. He said it was of great value materially and spiritually that these great democratic peoples should be supporting the common cause. The more Britain consulted them

on pressing matters of the war and the best way of securing and preserving an enduring peace, the better it would be. He supported the expressions of gratitude made by the Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, concerning the Empire offers of help. Major Attlee added that it was a striking demonstration of the strength of the I ties between peoples of different races, languages and religions that they depended on freedom and not on compulsion. It was their duty to keep that conception of freedom alive and spread it further throughout the whole Empire.