NO “BLOC” AT PREMIERS’ CONFERENCE

Grey River Argus, 11 October 1948, Page 4

NO “BLOC” AT PREMIERS’ CONFERENCE

Mr Fraser’s Arrival

(Rec 10.0). LONDON, October 9. Regardless of the potential or actual danger of the present international situation, it will ° e made clear at the outset of the Commonwealth Prime Ministers conference, which opens on Monday, that there is no desire or intention on the part of the United Kingdom to promote ganging up”, or the formation of a Commonwealth bloc. ' This is reported by Reuters political correspondent, who adds: The conference will not make policy decisions. The discussions will be of a much more informal character. . . Although the main interest may be in the group of plenary sessions which have been arranged, much of the most valuable work may be done in separate meetings between the individual Prime Ministers. The conference will encourage “cards on the table” exchanges, and the frankest ventilation of views as between individual Dominions. This frankness will also be invited in crucial plenary sessions on world and Commonwealth economics, defence and the international situation.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Stafford Cripps, will open the world economics debate on October 11 with a voluminous review, highlighted by reactions to his recent conferences in the United States and Canada. INDIA AND PAKISTAN

The decision of India and Pakistan on their ultimate relationship to the British Commonwealth may be largely influenced by the conference, as it will give them an unexampled opportunity to assess the merits of Commonwealth association.

Pandit Nehru (India) and Liaquat Ali Khan (Pakistan) will thus be able to give their advice when the time comes for the Indian and Pakistan Constituent Assemblies to decide for or against the continuation of Commonwealth membership. The Sunday Tinies says the subject of defence will be divided into regional parts of Western and Eastern. It is considered that conclusions will be reached more quickly if the Allantic and Arctic defence, in which Canada is specially interested, is discussed separately from the defence problems of South-East Asia, which are the particular concern of the Southern and Asiatic Dominions.

Representatives of all the Dominions, however, will attend both regional discussions. The WesternUnion, although not a separate item on the agenda, will be discussed.

Britain has no reason to expect from the Dominions anything but cordial support for it, the Sunday Times adds.

A standing Commonwealth Committee in London is one of the suggestions in the air. Particular problems like the adjustment of Imperial preference may also cause some difliculty. The New Zealand Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Peter Fraser, has arrived by air to attend the conference. He gave a broadcast interview to the Empire on his arrival.