INTER-IMPERIAL TRADE

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 445, 28 May 1937, Page 5

INTER-IMPERIAL TRADE

MATTERS ARISING FROM OTTAWA NOT TOBE DISCUSSED AT CONFERENCE Dominion Prime Ministers Farewell Mr Baldwin Press Association—Copyright. Received May 28, 10.50 a.m. LONDON, May 27. It was decided at the Imperial Conference to day that all matters arising from Ottawa will not be discussed at the conference, but will be subject to bilateral conversations. The Australian Associated Press Political Correspondent learns that it was also decided that there would be no immediate English-Australian discussions concerning the revision of Ottawa. The talks between England and New Zealand, which were commenced months ago by Hon. W. Nash, are continuing, while the England-South Africa conversations to revise their Ottawa agreement will commence in a few days, A new agreement between England and Canada was recently concluded. Thus Ottawa virtually disappears from the Imperial Conference. The decision regarding Ottawa was reached when the heads of delegations held their first meeting in connection with economic questions. Sir Runciman, in a very comprehensive statement, traced the developments of inter lmperial trade since Ottawa, and dealt with Britain’s various foreign trade treaties. Sir Walter Runicman also outlined America’s desire that the Dominions make sacrifices under Ottawa. It is understood, however, that the discussions between Britain and the Dominions regarding this matter will not be immediately initiated within the conference, but will be the subject of informal talks between Britain and each of the Dominions. At the conclusion of to-day’s meeting the Dominion Prime Ministers farewelled Mr Stanley Baldwin in the Cabinet room at Downing Street, and expressed great regret that this would be the last occasion on which he would preside at an Imperial Conference. Reference was also made to the great part he played at the past Imperial Conferences, and good wishes from all the delegations for the future were conveyed to him. They asked him to convey to Mrs Baldwin a special message of thanks for her great contribution to the social side of the conferences. Mr Baldwin thanked the delegates and expressed implicit faith in the future of the Empire and confidence in the success of the present conference. The Prime Minister also sympathetically referred to Mr Ramsay. MacDonald’s imminent retirement.