THE PREMIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 June 1921, Page 5

THE PREMIERS.

THE CROWN COLONIES. UNDER WAVE GF DEPRESSION. SPEECH ON FOREIGN POLICY. GENERAL DISCUSSION TO-DAY. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received June 24, 12.10 a.m. London, June 22. The Premiers' Conference was continued to-day. Lord Curzon .(Secretary for Foreign Affairs) spoke for over two hours entirely on foreign affairs and Mr. Winston Churchill (Secretary for the Colonies) followed on Mesopotamia. Neither speech will be published. The conference then adjourned till Friday, and ’Friday’s sitting will be devoted entirely to a discussion on foreign affairs. Mr. Churchill’s speech wate devoted to the Crown Colonies, whose story, he said, was fr’i of interest and romance. Problems existed in these Colonies .similar to those of larger States, though on a smaller scale, though they were sometimes more complex than those found in great States. Some were great Protectorates, exporting produce worth £40,600,090 to £50,600,000 annually to Britain. During the war they were prosperous, but with the coming of peace a wave of trade depression had fallen upon them. The prices of tiu and rubber had fallen below the cost of production and even the sugar producing colonies were in difficulties about the disposal of their crops. The decline in the world’s consuming power was making itself felt on highly organised British industries and by repercussion affecting the raw materials of the tropical dependencies. “Apart from this phase,” said Mr. Churchill, “one cannot help feeling how magnificent is the asset which the Empire possesses and we must endeavor to secure credit money for the development of the colonies.” Although this was a matter for Britain at the present time it should more and more engage the sympathies and interest of the self-governing Dominions. He instanced the agreement between Canada and the West Indies. Bermuda had declined to ratify the reciprocity agreement, but he would endeavor to secure acceptance. He hoped to get a delegation from Rhodesia to meet General Smuts and Mr. Smartt in order to discuss its position. The great expense in Palestine arid Mesopotamia had led to everything in regard to the Crown Colonies being pruned severely, but he hoped to develop railway communication is Uganda. Mr. Churchill referred to the question raised by Mr. Sastri regarding Indian settlers in Crown Colonies. He thought there was only one ideal that the Empire could set before itself, and that was that there should be no barrier of race, color or creed to prevent any man of merit from reaching any station if fitted fbr it. He did not feel able to adopt any lesser statement of principle in regard to Crown Colonies, but it would”have to be carefully and gradually applied.

FOREIGN PROBLEMS.

SETTLEMENTS HOPED FOR. DIFFICULTIES "WITH TURKEY. Received June 24, 12.10 a.m. London, June 22. Following the 1900 precedent, Lord Curzon, in his address to the Premiers Conference, gave a comprehensive survey of foreign affaire. He explained the position regarding Germany on similar linee to Mr. Lloyd George’s speech, suggesting th'at the Silesian trouble was passing, and a settlement of other questions was in eight. The Lithuanian boundaries problem was causing unrest, but there was hope of a solution. The. treaty of peace with Turkey was a matter of greater difficulty? owing to the disunion and instability of the country, which could not guarantee that any arrangement would be honored. Enormous expense was entailed in maintaining forces in reserve to meet likely emergencies, and if a settlement was approved a most threatening menace would be removed. He would welcome the advice and. views of the Dominions. Russia still provided involved situations, but forbearance and patience would restore the balance. The Government had prepared memoranda of suggestions on all matters of Empire interest, setting out frankly the position in every case and showing the outlook. H? welcomed the .Dominions interesting themselves in Empire matters, and he did not wish to prejudice the decisions of the Conference, but frankly the giving of elaborate detail or arguments in secret was necssary, because (the public disclosure of everything bared at the Conference would result in checking the freedom of expression, and 'would curb opinion and prevent an understanding. Lord Curzon explained the inwardness of the renewal of the Anglo-Japanese treaty. It was true the conditions had changed since the original agreement, but the future held its problems, and the renewal was possible.on terms acceptable to Britain, the Dominions, Japan and America. Touching on the situation in Egypt,? Lord Curzon explained the causes of the unrest and stated a solution was regarded as in sight. There was reason also to believe that the New Hebrides problem would be solved. He mentioned the failure of the condominium, for which a substitute was required.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

MR. MASSEY’S SPEECH

SUPPORTS STRONG PACIFIC NAVY. THE ALLIANCE WITH JAPAN. FAVORS MODIFIED AGREEMENT. Received June 23, 8.20 p.m. London. June 22. Mr. W. F. Massey (New Zealand), in his address at the conference, said Mr. Lloyd George’s speech was the most important since the war, and would give much satisfaction overseas. It made it quite clear that the act of separately signing the Peace Treaty by the Dominions had not given them complete

independence; none of them individually could enter into treaties of war or peace with foreign nations, as some held they could do. He elaborated his views on the subject of setting up in peace the equivalent o*f the War Cabinet. The Dominions had gained in status since the war, but had gone back otherwise. Mr. W. M. Hughes (Australia): “How gone back?” Mr. Massey: “We have lost the right we then had in the war and other matters to assist in making recommendations to the Sovereign.” He believed strongly in the partnership of the nations of the British Empire, but at the same time he admitted there was a stronger power in the Empire to-day than any printed words; this was the patriotic sentiment of the people. Mr. Massey hoped a sufficiently strong fiaval force would be kept to maintain connections in all parts of the Empire. He hoped there would never be war, but everyone knew that the more densely inhabited countries of the world were only kept within bounds and prevented from inflicting injustice on their weaker neighbours by the fear of a stronger power than themselves. New Zealand was feeling severely war expenditure, but he took the responsibility of saying she would find her fair share of money to provide a navy strong enough to protect the Pacific, and was prepared to join any well thought out alliance with America, though he did not think that possible yet. Mr. Massey emphasised the importance of the subject of the Japanese Treaty. He had told his own Parliament that he was quite prepared, with necessary modifications, to support a renewal. He referred to Japanese help to New Zealand in the early days of the war, but no other naval aid was available, but supporting the I‘enewal did not effect in the slightest degree New Zealanders’ right to choose their fellow citizens. He was quite prepared to take America’s view into consideration in the renewal. Mr. Massey said he intended to bring up shipping communications and. the need for faster mail and passenger services with Britain. The elections next year would prevent his attendance at the conference.

The speech makes two and a half columns in the London Press.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.

INDIA’S RIGHTS.

THE EQUALITY OF PEOPLES. DEFINITE RULING DESIRED. Received June 23, 9 p.m. London, June 22. Mr. Sastri (India), speaking at the Premiers’ Conference, said: “Greatly important to me is the mention of the status enjoyed 'by Indians in thfe Dominions. Your noble words describing the Empire as a confederation’of races into which willing and free peoples have been admitted is incongruous with inequality of races and freedom, and implies, as of- necessity, the admission oi all peoples to the rights of citizenship without reservation. The Indian delegation proposes to submit for the consideration of the conference a resolution which will be regarded in India as a test by which the whole position may be judged. This subject is of supreme importance, and shoqld be considered and disposed of at this meeting. It is of the most urgent and pressing importance that we should be able to carry buck a message of hope. I can only plead there should be no occasion for small bickerings and mutual recriminations.”

It is understood the motion referred to by Mr. Sastri suggests establishing a principle of mutual free aedfess to ait Dominions for all' the Empire races, while guaranteeing control of the flow of the types considered unwelcome in certain countries. Strong opposition is §X'pected in several quartos, and there is no hope of the motion becoming a conference resolution.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. WIDE PUBLIC INTEREST. CONSTITUTION GF THE EMPIRE. NO CHANGE LIKELY. Received June 23, 10.30 p.m. London, June 22. The Premiers' Conference continues to attract public and newspaper attention. Ministers’ speeches are printed verbatim in some journals, the Dailv Telegraph giving eight columns to Mr. W. M. Hughes’ address, which is regarded as most important, his views commending themselves to general approval. All anxieties about the Prime Ministers committing the Dominions to some form of Empire federation .have been dispelled. The proposal to hold a constitutional conference next year had cold water thrown upon it generally and will probably be abandoned. The elections in Canada, New Zealand aqd Australia will prevent representation from these Dominions. All favfir the unwritten constitution prevailing at present; no Qiie favors tampering with the existing fabric of the Empire, but at the same time they agree with the desirableness of correcting anomalies and removing causes of friction. Jt has been decided that the conference should sit daily, alternately at 1-1 a.m. and 4.30 p.m., the week-ends to be tree. The Premiers are anxious to speed up and hope to finish by the end of July.