Imperial Crisis?

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 753, 28 August 1929, Page 9

Imperial Crisis?

IRISH FREE STATE’S DEMANDS Secret Conference (United Service) Received Noon. LONDON, Monday. IT is learned that an unprecedented meeting occurred at 1 No. 30 Downing Street this afternoon, attended by Mr. Ramsay MacDonald and every available British Cabinet Minister, the Dominions’ High Commissioners, British and Dominions League delegates. It was virtually an Empire Cabinet, one of the first, if not the first ever held except during the Imperial Conferences.

The meeting was of the utmost importance, but was shrouded in mystery to such an extent that the only indication the meeting was held was an announcement from Mr. MacDonald that he had received the Dominion delegates. There was no mention of the fact that those present also included Lord Passfield, Mr. A. V. Alexander, First Lord of the Admiralty, Lord Robert Cecil, and Dr. Dalton, representing the Foreign Office. There is a good reason for believing that the Irish Free State played a most important role at today’s meeting, dropping a bombshell, reportedly demanding the right of entirely indeXiendent action at the forthcoming League Assembly. It is understood that attempts have been made to overcome the difficulty by conceding the Free State’s desire to act independently, but, it is hoped,

only after consultation with other self-governing members of the Empire. It is hoped that the usual custom of the British delegation regularly meeting those from the Dominions during the League Assembly will be continued, enabling policies to be confidentially discussed. Any abandonment of such practice obviously is of the utmost seriousness. Indeed, the Free State’s present intractability constitutes one of the gravest threats to Imperial accord. Apparently those at today’s meeting were sworn to the strictest secrecy, and. would not offer any information. Official circles were likewise reticent. The conference lasted more than two hours, no decision being reached. It resumes at Geneva on Sunday, when Mr. MacDonalcl meets the British delegation and the chief Dominion delegates.