EMPIRE AFFAIRS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 March 1924, Page 3

EMPIRE AFFAIRS.

MR BRUCE RETURNS. lIY TKI.KOItAfII —IUtKSS ASSN., COI-VItKJHT. PERTH. March A. Mr Rriiee. Australian Premier, a. rived here 10-day. lie came by the Osterly and not the Orsovn. He said he would make a full sDitement regarding Die Imperial Conference mTicii the Federal Parliament assembled oil March 2T>. lie declared that the wort; of the Conference Mould prove inv.ilaslilc to the Empire in the future. The outstanding result mjis iiii appreciation by all the delegates Dial Die ties which , hind Die Empire together must he main lit iiied and .strengthened. A breaking up of the Empire Mould he a disaster to Hritain. the Dominions and Ihe whole of the world. He was hoMcviT, convinced that the holding >f a ooii*tit tit ionitl conference to lay (loa n a basis for the relations between Die different self-governing parts ol Die Empire Mould lie a grave inistnl Time and a gradual evolution he said, would bring a solution of nil (heir prolileni.s. Hoi. great result ol Die eotilerenec wa a clear (hTinitioii of the position and status of the Imperial ('oilf('fence in the Empire affairs', lie ihougbl I hat even the slrongesl advocates ol the Empire Parliament acre nmv 'oii- \ ineed that that idea mjis impracticable. Wo mo re therefore lol'o with an | aiperia l Conference M'liieh. M'hile it might frame proposals, believed it to be advantageous that they should not

be binding on any part of Die Empire until they have received the ratification of the respective Parliaments on (he question of foreign relations of Dm Dominion, Die 'onloroneo had clear.y r , q t!ial '••■•(-re sclGpv onimg |.,i(! el Die I'.mpitx '.me. abrnlittelv depend, nt as far a'- the seeurify of the Empire, jitul also imlepemlent as U’r as the spenrity ol Die Empire permitted in iis relations with foreign lint ions. Referring to Die Empire and preference. Mr Bruce said that most British people hum recognised that Diet had to look to the Empire’s great undeveloped heritage lor their future prosperity. If Die Conferemo has done nothing more ilnin awaken Biitish interest fit the possibilities of the Empire, then it bad justified itself. While there Mas no obligation on the British Parliament (o accept preference proposals of the Baldwin Government, lie sincerely trusted Dint in the interests of Britain herself, they would he accepted. He said Dud the MacDonald Government had undertaken to submit tln-in. and he felt confident that most of them M'ould he carried bv a large majority. Mr Bruce, referring lo the visit lo Gallipoli, said he was satisfied D,n Australians would appreciate what had been done for Dm care of the cemeteries there. AIR BRUCE SURPRISED. PERTH. March fi. Mr Bruce, speaking at civic reception, said that in a wireless communication that he had received during the. voyage it muis stated the British Gov-

eminent was opposing the appointmentof a permanent economic committee end he could hardly credit such a statement as he had discussed the matter with members of the present British Government. He understood they were sympathetic towards it. Til any ea-e they had Air MacDonald's promise that all the resolutions of the Economic Conference would lie submitted in Parliament for unfettered consideration. Air Bruce said ho was con (blent the promise would be kept. EAIPIRK DEFENCE. AIR BRUCE’S PLEA EOT? SINGAPORE BASK. PERTH. Afareh ft. Air Bruce referring to Empire defence said that the Conference agreed that, it. was imperative that Britain. while ever striving to bring about a further reduction in armaments, should maintain forces necessary lor the defence of her great possessions. Here in Australia, the issue which struck us most was the defence of the Pacific. The Singapore base was discussed and lie would deal with the subject at very great length later. However, he pressed that the Empire's policy should be to insure that the Singapore base would he built because without it Britain’s position in the Pacific was inevitably completely altered. Air Bruce added that the reason which actuated him most was the fac-t that the AVashington Treaty could never be given effect to unless the Singapore Base was built, as without it, it was impossible for Britain to have her spare of the forces accorded her under tii • treaty, because she could not bring a single modern battleship into the Pacific unless she had a base from w|ieh she could operate.

He concluded by saying that he had dwelt upon that fact because in striving for a reduction in armaments they had to act with sanity and not be carried ini-av by unreasoning idealism. If the Empire stripped itself of its full powers „f defence, we would not l>e a contributor to a reduction in armaments but be giving an incentive to immoral nations to pile up armaments and drive us back to a point of starving in competition with them.