THE PREMIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 July 1921, Page 5

THE PREMIERS.

EGYPT DISCUSSED. QUESTION OF FOREIGN POLICY. SUGGESTED CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES. By Telegraph.—Press Assn —Copyright. London, July 11. During the afternoon the Conference discussed Egypt, concerning which Lord Curozn made a statement regarding future policy which commended itself to the practically unanimous support of the Premiers. The Conference thereafter discussed the possibilities of closer relations between the Dominions and the Motherland concerning foreign affairs. This discussion originated in a resolution at the 1918 conference rpcomniending the holding of a constitutional conference. To-day’s meeting was devoted to hearing proposals in reference to the agenda at a future conference at which the Premiers, leaders of the Opposition and other parties should participate Mr. Hughes, General Smuts. Messrs. Meighen and Massey outlined their individual ideas by which constitutional changes could be effected. The Conference adjourned until tomorrow. LEAGUE OF NATIONS. ADDRESS BY MR. BALFOUR. HOPES NOT FULFILLED.

• Received July 13, 11 pm. London, July 12. Mr. Balfour, addressing the Premiers’ Conference on the League of Nations, pointed out some of the difficulties confronting the establishment of the League Those who fraiped the covenant assumed that the Treaty of Versailles would effectually settle the matters arising out of the war, leaving the League the relatively simple duty of maintaining rights that were clearly established, and preventing national* differences developing into national wars. These hopes Were not fulfilled as yet. The League has now to deal with conditions that were never contemplated by the framers of the covenant. He hoped that Germany would soon be a member, but Russia could only come in when she ceased to be in the position which, for the moment, she is in.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assn. RUSSIA’S DISTURBING INFLUENCE. THE LEAGUE’S EXPENDITURE. Received July 14, 12.20 a.m. London, July 12. Continuing his address, Mr. Balfour said that whether the Soviet endures or perishes, Russia will be likely, for some time to come, to be a disturbing influence in Eastern Europe, which would be difficult for the League to guide or control. Another difficulty, said Mr. Balfour, was due io the fact that the statesmen best qualified by their positions as Prime Ministers or Foreign Secretaries could not regularly participate in the League’s conferences. The League's expenditure would be always easy to attack. “The gain to the world's international cooperation is immense, but it cannot be allocated with any definiteness between the co-operating nations. Therefore, it ig easy for a parliamentary critic to ask what advantage his particular nation derives from expenditure.”—AUS.-N.Z. Cable Assn.