IMPERIAL CONFERENCE CONCLUDES

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1926, Page 9

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE CONCLUDES

NEW CHAPTERS WRITTEN IN EMPIRE’S HISTORY DOMINIONS’ PART IN PROBLEMS OF DEFENCE RELATIONSHIPS REGISTERED AND CLARIFIED (Press Association—Copyright.) Received November 24, 5.5 p.m. London, November 23. Having written many new chapters of the Empire’s history—all of them agree with most satisfactory results—the Premiers completed their labours with the sixteenth and final session of the Imperial Conference this afternoon. As with the opening, it was an occasion of siik hats, frock eoats and felicitous speech making.

As far as Mr. Bruce and Mr. Coates are concerned, it will be speechmaking far them for the next fortnight on their provincial tour, in which they will elaborate the points of the conference’s decisions. Already there is a crop of press discussions of the new status of the King - and the Dominions, on which the newspapers are copiously quoting opinions from all parts of the Empire. For instance, the position of the Australian State Governors has cropped up. I he Australian Press Association gathers that the Federal viewpoint will probably be that in that connection things remain unchanged and the States are linked to the Dominions’ Office, the Governors continuing to be the channels for communication. It is remarked that the conference dealt only with the great selfgoverning Dominions and if similar treatment were accorded to the States, it would be opening the way to its continuance down to the smallest Crown Colony. Australian Agents-General are keenly discussing the position. One, with long Ministerial experience, endorses the foregoing viewpoint that the State Governors are still amenable to Downing Street. Another, with wide British and Australian experience, says the Imperial Conference merely regularised the existing practice with regard to both Federal and State Governors, and did not affeet the established principle that all domestic questions are to be settled solely between the Governors and the Governments without reference to Downing Street. The same authority also pointed out it would ’ be a bad day if the Imperial authorities were encouraged to interfere. Sir Dudley de Chair, the Governor of New South Wales, had literally followed the Imperial precedent that when Mr. Asquith proposed to swamp the House of Lords the King said: “Get the' authority of the electorate.” Mr. Asquith complied, whereupon the King agreed and the Lords capitplated. He expressed the opinion that if the New South Wales Premier, Mr. Lang, followed Mr. Asquith’s precedent of going to the electors on a definite issue, the Governor would inevitably follow the King’s precedent. METHODS OF CONSULTATION. On tie subject of new methods of consultation, it can be said that there is no immediate intention of appointing special officers in London and at the scats of the Dominion Governments, nor at Washington. It is gathered that there 'was such a divergence of ideas on this point in the conference that it was left to the discretion of the individual Dominions to adopt any system they chose, with the assurance that Great Britain was ready to reciprocate. For instance, Australia, whether with the continuance of a liason officer, or by the High Commissioner being accredited to Downing Street, might prefer to continue to communicate direct with Downing Street, or might like to have at Canberra- an unofficial British representative for the purpose of clearing up matters requiring explanation, l>ut upon which the Commonwealth would prefer not to make inquiry direct. Such a method would have Great Britain’s acquiescence. . Even with Canadian and Irish Ministers at Washington it is not thought that other Dominions will follow suit. For one thing the expense will be a deterring factor, and the services of the British representative are always available. IMPERIAL DEFENCE. The inevitable necessity of consulting the various'-Parliaments on the subject of contributions by the Dominions towards the cost of Imperial defence, accounts for the general terms of the defence report. Comment was heard to-night that it is a re-affirmation of the 1023 resolutions on defence, particularly clause two, which deals with the nature and extent of the Dominions’ assistance thereto. It was virtually emphasised that Australia chiefly, and New Zealand to a smaller extent, are the only two who have since 1023 adopted a policy of self-help, and if the next three years saw no change conferences would simply have to go on repeating similar resolutions. Another highly-placed comment was that the allusion to Australia’s, New Zealand’s and India’s “special interest” in the Singapore base, was a renewal of the 1923 statement, and implied that inquiry whether such interest appealed to the respective Treasuries on its economic side. No change was sought in the existing preferences, pnd there was no idea of altering or adding to them. There is no desire for an Imperial zollverein, but a recognition that the best hope for mutually expanding trade lav in co-op-eration on the lines adopted by America during President Roosevelt's regime. The Australian Press Association learns that though the communications committee was unable to make recnmniendations on Sir James Connolly’s fast sh-p s-heme, this do-s not mean the end of the proposal. Sir James Connolly is still negotiating with Mr. Bruee. FOREIGN RELATIONS. The official summary of the proceedings at the conference states: “The importance of the Suez Canal route and

its bearing on foreign relations was cmphaised in the discussion of foreign affairs on October 25, when eatisfaction was expressed at the improved European relations to which Great Britain had so largely contributed. It was demonstrated that the Empire was firmly attached to the League of Nations as an instrument of peace. “Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand agreed to the policy of Condominium in tJie New Hebrides. “The Governments concerned discussed the utilisation of the Antarctic areas discovered by Great Britain with a view of developing their exploration and research. “The conference-fwaffirmed the defence resolutions adopted at the last conference and <egretted there had not been greater progress in armament limitation, though it was recognised that the effort was necessary to maintain the naval i standard laid down at the Washington ; conference, namely, naval equality with any foreign power. “A resolution was carried expressing the vital importance of ensuring the security of trade routes, on which account the representatives of Australia, New Zealand and India noted with special interest the British Government’s steps to develop the Singapore naval base, and welcoming the spirit of co-operation displayed in expediting the work, “The conference expressed satisfaction with the progress in building up the air forces and resources of the Empire and urged the necessity of creating and maintaining an adequate chain of air bases and refuelling stations. The conference observed the progress in organising the general military formations, the adoption of patterns of weapons on similar lines, and the interImperial exchange of officers, and invited the Governments to eon-’tier an extension thereof with further consultation between the various general staffs. It recommended the interchange of both individual air officers and of complete units. “The conference noted India’s onerous defence responsibilities and her decision to create a navy; also that closer defence co-operation had been effected by the reciprocal attachment of officers to staff colleges. “It drew attention to the facilities of the Imperial Defence College, .noted the developments of the Imperial Defence Committee and recalled the resolution of 1911, accepting in principle the establishment of defence committees in the Dominions. IMPROVING COMMUNICATIONS. The conference adopted the Imperial Communications’ Committee’s resolution emphasising the necessity of improving communications, especially between Great Britain and India and Australia, and Britain and New Zealand, but was unable to make any recommendation on the specific proposal for an improved service between Great Britain and India and Australia. Believing, however, that acceleration was possible, it suggested that the Governments concerned should investigate the possibilities of doing so. “The conference noted the Rugby wireless telephony experiments, but the report of the committee’s meeting regarding the Press Union’s deputation on facilities for the dissemination of British news will be published later. Mr. Baldwin will submit to His Majesty the conference’s address of devotion to the Throne, pointing out that goodwill and a desire for 90-operation in Imperial prosperity marked all the deliberations of the members of the conference to each of whom the Crown was an abiding symbol and emblem of the unity of the British Commonwealth. “The conference found the plan of referring many question to committees was most successful, and carried a resolution appreciating the work of the members of these committees, and mutually recording pleasure in welcoming the overseas delegates, and thanking the British Cabinet members for their constant attention. “Conference delegates were convinced that its deliberations were of the greatest importance in promoting Empire wide unity through co-operative action ” The conference adopted the Mandates Committee’s report approving the reply to the secretary of the League of Nations. STATE-OWNED VESSELS. The conference also adopted the Economic Sub-committee’s report approving, subject to the settlement of certain points, of the policy accepted by the Economic Conference in 1923 and the Brussels and Genoa Maritime Conferences of 1925-26 regarding the immunity of State-owned vessels, such policy being to allow claims against Stateowned vessels to be heard in the law courts instead of being handled by governments as a matter of grace. Mr. Coates, commenting on the interImperial Relations Committee’s report, said: “What is most apparent is that in His Majesty reposes more than ever the strongest tie binding the Empire together. The right to communicate direct with His Majesty, through Gov-ernorfl-Geiicral may irot involve any change in procedure but it recognises a principle which is better for definition. It will now be more than ever necessary for British statesmen to keep close touch with the Dominions.

So far as New Zealand ia concerned proposals are being considered forth, with for improving inter-contact by means of more direct personal communication. Reviewing the final meeting of the Imperial Conference, Mr. J. C. C. Davidson, Minister of Publicity, said the most striking thing about the conference was its spirit, which was entirely new, the feeling being that the Empire had reached a definite point in its development. Hitherto the conception had been that the Mother Country was the focus, the Dominions being lines on a map, but now are spokes in a wheel which partook more of the nature of a web. In view of their direct mutual communications the Dominions were, so to speak, interlocked. “Those who thought the Empire was going to fly to pieces are faced by the discouraging fact that yon can see this interlocking running through the whole of the inter-imperial relations report. The conference’s practical results are most considerable. General Hertzog, whom many were inclined to think might find his position difficult, returns completely satisfied with what he has learned of the true position of the Empire. It will make the enemies of the F.m pire blaspheme, and that is a most satisfactory thing. EMPIRE AIR SERVICE. Importance attaches to the phraseology of the Air Communications report, wherein reference is made to His Majesty’s Governments in Great Britain, South Africa and His Majesty’s Government in the Commonwealth of Australia. Mr. Brace is no longer Prime Minister of the Commonwealth but is the King’s Prime Minister in the Commonwealth. The position is similar regarding General Hertzog in South Africa and Mr. Baldwin 1 in Great Britain. That may seem a small thing, but it is most important.” The conference report regarding the Antarctic policy specifically. indicates that the Wilkes Land area, west of Adelie Land, disovered by the Austra lian expedition of 1912, as being British by virtue of discovery. The Daily News points out the significance of this decision lies in the fact that France made a claim to this area last year. The Times, in a leader, says: “The best evidence of the success of the Imperial Conference Is that its very various members are satisfied. Visitors to previous conferences departed with a vague feeling of disappointment. This time things are obviously very different, yet this change in spirit, this new sense of hope, cannot .be attributed to any startling changes, because the conference has made none. The inter-imperial relations report contains no innovations, it merely registers nnd clarifies the actual facts in inter.lmperial relationship and concisely records the state of affairs which has been established by practice in recent years, and which was thoroughly familiar to those who have closely followed the Empire’s fortunes.” THE FINAL SPEECHES. Speaking at the final session of the Imperial Conference, Mr. Mackenzie King paid a tribute to the friendliness and frankness of the British Government throughout. All were agreed that there had been a striking readiness to seek, understand and appreciate one another’s viewpoints and difficulties. The conferencejg greatest achievement was the evidence of common standards with a fundamental unity of purpose and ideals, together with a common desire to work out a sound basis for enduring co-opera-tion. Mr. Brace expressed the opinion that the main value of the conference had been to focus publie attention on Imperial questions. They had accomplished a good deal of important work, though in some directions they ftad not gone as far as. individually, they might have liked. The conference, in some directions, had made an epoch marking advance. They had given the world a clearer conception than hitherto of the meaning of an Empire of self-govern-ing nations, jealous of their autonomy yet proud of their Imperial unity. “I feel,” said Mr. Bruee, “our status as individual nations has been increased while at the same time the prestige of the whole Empire has been considerably enhanced. The conference reports only partly indicate to the Parliaments and people overseas what the conference has achieved. The delegates will leave with a feeling of a most deeply warm vein of friendship permeating every portion of the Empire. This could only bo achieved by personal contact.” Mr. Brace paid a tribute to Mr. Baldwin’s Government’s unremitting attention to conference problems, despite the great industrial uphea val. SPIRIT OF CO-OPERATION. General Hertzog said: “In leaving the conference, we all feel we are cooperators in one great scheme. We realise the necessity for occasional meetings in order to understand the feeling and spirit of London. I shall return with a feeling which I think does not often happen to tmyone at such an important gathering. I leave fully satisfied that whatever I wanted to attain has been attained, and, what is more, it was attained with the full sympathy and cooperation of all tho other delegates.” Mr. O'Higgins said; “I recognise gratefully that every matter the Irish Free State raised has received fair and friendly consideration, and has been met with a desire to meet us reasonably.” Mr. Coates said he appreciated the delegates’ co-operation in respect to divergent viewpoints. Mr. Baldwin had inspired a most harmonious spirit throughout. He (Mr. Coates) did not place over-much importance on the written word, though it might be deemed important to peoples in some parts of the Empire who saw difficulties which perhaps did not exist. “Our deliberations will have a most powerful effect both inside and outside the Empire,” ho concluded. Mr. Baldwin declared: “I am glad the conference met in the midst of our gravest and most embara'ssing preoccupation, because, while you admit you derive strength from meeting us in council, it is even more so with us. Your mere presence fills us with new vigour. I hope and think, like Mr. Coates, that the progress made is not measurable so much by words, though these are important, but by the refreshment of spirit in every corne'r of the Empire in which our work, will proceed for years to come.” MR. COATES’ PROGRAMME. A VISIT TO .SCOTLAND. Received Nov. 24. 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 23 Mr. Bruee and Mr. Coatee set out for Scotland to-night. Though nothing Is definite, there is a strong likelihood that Mr. Brace will sail for home via Can-

ada and America, leaving here about December 14. THE RUSSIAN VIEW. EMPIRE BREAKING UP. Received Nov. 24, 10.50 p.m. Moscow, Nov. 23. The newspaper Isvestia, commenting on the British Imperial Conference results, says: “The next step- can only be the separation of the Dominions from their Imperial association. The British Empire is breaking in pieces.”