THE PREMIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 July 1921, Page 5

THE PREMIERS.

FOREIGN POLICY PROBLEM. KO DECISION BEACHED. By Telegraph,—Press Assn. —Copyright London, July 12. The conference again considered the foreign policy to-day, the discussion being really three-cornered between Mr. Lloyd George, Mr.- Hughes and Mr. Meighen. The delegates are endeavoring to discover the best means by which the voice of the Empire can be most effectively heard. Details of the discussion are secret, but it is reported that no decision was arrived at. Mr. Meighen now proposes visiting Canada while the conference continues. Mr. Hughes points to this as an indication of the advantage in time and distance Canada’s communications give over those of Australia and New Zealand. PACIFIC MATTERS. There is a growing opinion amongst the Dominion representatives that Pacific problems should ba put before the conference at Washington. No definite steps have yet been taken, but it is likely strong representations will be made in that direction, when the detailed work of the conference develops. The Imperial Conference is attended daily by secretaries in addition to the Prime Ministers. After the adjournment to-day only the Ministers remained, when a secret Cabinet was held for over an hour. No announcement was made, but it is believed that the Washington possibilities were discussed in all their phases. MR. HUGHES AND U.S. CONFERENCE. It is stated in well-informed, circles that Mr. Hughes has been invited to attend the Washington Conference. His decision will be largely influenced by political feeling in Australia. Unless reassuring advices change his view his present intention is to hurry home at the earliest moment. The constant application to conference business is telling heavily on the delegates.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS CONSULTATION. IMPORTANT COMMITTEE WORK. FORECAST OF OPINION. Received July 14, 10.15 p.m. London. July 13. Recent developments at the Premiers Conference with reference to facilities for inter-imperial Government communications, also Lord Curon’fi proposal for establishing more intimate and more frequent consultations on foreign matters affectine the Dominions, have im- i pressed the Premiers that the proposed _ constitutional conference is becoming unnecessary. Among the principal reasons for summoning the present conference was the preparation of the agenda for a constitutional conference next year, in accordlance with the resolution of the 191 S Imperial Conference. It is believed the ' jPremiers are purposely postponing the, preparation of the agenda in the hope ? that the conference will not be held. : The majority believe that the present system is more elastic and more capable of improvement than any form of federation or written constitution. The Conference to-day split into committees dealing respectively with mails, cable rates, wireless telegraphy, telephony, aviation and reparations, hoping to report to the conference next week None have completed their tasks, but it is forecasted that the committees are of opinion that it is impossible to accelerate the mails, owing to the cost of coal; that wireless has not passed the scientific stage, and is unable to compete with cables commercially; and that aviation is premature for long dis-tances.—Aus.-NJZ. Cable Assn. SECRET CONFERENCE. ON IMPORTANT AFFAIRS. THE QUESTION. Received July 15, 12.15 a.m. London, July 14. The Prime Ministers, including Mr. Lloyd George, who met in private on Tuesday, conferred again secretly yesterday morning. Highly confidential matters relating to foreign and Imperial affairs were discussed. No other announcement was made., The immigration question was considered afterwards by a special committee with a view to securing the systematic development of the Empire along ordered lines. Finally it was agreed to refer the matter to the open conference at a later stage. Although the Imperial conference is overshadowed by the Washington conference and De Valera developments, the delegates continue to stick closely to their work. Yesterday was fully occupied. The conference met at the Colonial Office, Mr. Churchill presiding. The communications question was further considered, military and civil experts of all branches attending, including the Postmaster-General. Some headway was made, the discussion being adjourned to hear a deputation from the Empire Press Union, Lord Burnham, Lord Riddell and Donald Jones acting as spokesmen. EMPIRE PRESS HANDICAPS.

Lord Burnham pointed out the disabilities under which the Press struggled, mainly owing to the high cable rates and congestion of lines. He showed the contrast with the American and French systems of propaganda, which provided facilities for the Press, and gave the latter a tremendous advantage. The Press of the Empire, on the contrary, was strangled, by high rates and lack of adequate facilities. Lord Riddell said the question was not so much whether lower rates would pay the cable companies, but whether the best interests of the Empire were served by the present system of news distribution oversea and from the Dominions. Further representations are to be made to-morrow. WIRELESS INTERESTS’ OFFER. It is understood that the wireless interests offer to provide a rate exactly half of the lowest of the cable companies if a chain is authorised. All opinion favors direct communication rather than relays.— Cable Assqj

ENTERTAINED by EIGHTY CLUB. MR. ASQUITH’S SPEECH. HAPPY AUGURY FOR FUTURE. Received July 14, 10.50 p.m. London, July 13. Mr. Asquith presided at the Eighty Club’s luncheon to the Dominion Premiers. He said he welcomed President Harding’s invitation. Whatever the Imperial Conference had done, or whatever it might contemplate doing, it would always be associated in history with an event which had a happy augury for the future—namely, the summons to a conference at Washington. He also welcomed the Irish Conference, the issue of which would affect the Dominions as much as Britain. Air. Meighen responded. He said he heartily welcomed President Harding’s proposed conference.—-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. A MAGNIFICENT ENTERTAINMENT. BY INDIAN DELEGATES. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, July 12. The Indian delegates to the Conference entertained the Prime Ministers at the Carlton Hotel with a magnificence untouched by any other function. Six Native Princes, with an aggregate annual income of over £2,000,090, were included in the party. They offered a .remarkable contrast to Mr. Sasxri, who belongs to a cult binding him to spend only £6 a month on himself. His income is £BO. His two sons are attending the University. Air. Sastri is the brains of the Indian delegation. f AIR. HUGHES’ .MESSAGE. SAFETY THE' FIRST ESSENTIAL. Air. Hughes, responding on behalf of the guests at the Indian dinner, said he congratulated India on the magnificence of her performances in the war, and the excellence of her representation at the Imperial Conference. .He particularly emphasised the Importance of a united Empire to India and the self-governing Dominions, and pointed out all that Australia had achieved in the way of selfgovernment and independence. This showed that what was possible under the protection of the British flag and British, administration was still possible in similar circumstances in any other British territory, no matter how advanced their views. The Dominions were now free in every sense of the word, yet they were members of the greatest empire that had ever existed. The Empire was the greatest guarantee of peace in the world and would ensure the safety of the Dominions. He asked the Indian delegates to take this message back with them. No matter what some of their extremists might ask Indians should remember that whatever they achieved it would be useless without safety, which could not be guaranteed outside- the British Empire. He begged them to remember that all the Dominions had achieved in the way of self-government was only gained by constitutional means and not by revolution. Their progress had been oh? of steady advance liberty. Whatever India's aspirations might be they could not be served by revolution, nor could anything be assured by separation from the Empire. Mr. Hughes continues to dominate the Conference. Next to Mr. Lloyd George his is the most alert brain in the assemblage. His contests with Mr. Meighen, who is a cold academic debater, are still the feature of the conference. The other delegats do not. wield much influence.