"BREATH OF OPTIMISM”

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12616, 29 November 1926, Page 6

"BREATH OF OPTIMISM”

DOMINION PRIME MINISTERS MR BALDWIN EXPRESSES GRATITUDE KING BIDS THEM GODSPEED By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received November 27, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 26. Two hundred persons, including members of the Cabinet, enthusiastically farewelled the Dominion Prime Ministers at the Empire Parliamentary Association’s dinner at the House of Lords. Mr Baldwin presided, and read his Majesty’s reply to the Imperial Conference's address. “The Queen and I warmly thank members of the conference for their expression of fidelity and devotion. I have followed with the closest interest the conference’s proceedings, and am convinoed that the leaders have afforded the Empire and the world a better understanding and a clearer conviction of what the Empire means. It has given me the utmost satisfaction to greet so many of my Ministers from the Dominions, and to learn personally from them the problems and aspirations of ray peoples overseas. The Queen and !l treasure recollections of visits to these lands as among ihe happiest of our lives. We wish the members of the conference Godspeed and a safe return.” “WE HAVE BEEN REFRESHED" Mr Baldwin, in toasting the overseas visitors, said: “The coming of the conference this autumn has been the happiest thing that could have happened to England. We have been refreshed by a breath of optimism, which the Dominion representatives brought. They have heartened our future endeavours by knowiedging that they are striving, in all corners of the world, inspired by the same ideals. Lord Balfour’s reputation has increased by his association with the historic report of the committee on inter-lm-perial Relations, which simply acknowledges that the Dominions have reached manhood, and are fit to take up manhood’s responsibilities. Our aims have been to stress co-operation, not independence, and defence, not conquest.” PERSONAL CONTACT HELPFUL Mr Coates said every delegate left the conference with feelings of entire satisfaction. It was not so much what was said or written as the personal contact. This was the strongest influence of the conference. He emphasised that each Dominion had equal rights and status, and freely associated with one another. Furthermore, each now understood the others’ viewpoint, which was most valuable.