DELHI CONFERENCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 October 1940, Page 7

DELHI CONFERENCE

PROBLEMS OF WAR SUPPLY POOLING OF RESOURCES. POLICY OF JOINT ACTION. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, October 12. Attention is being concentrated on the aims of the eastern group conference which the Viceroy will open at Delhi on October 25, and at which representatives of Australia, New Zealand. South Africa, Southern Rhodesia, Burma, Hong Kong, Ceylon, Malay and [ territories of the East African governors’ conference will participate. The members of the British Ministry of Supply mission, headed by Sir Alexander Roger, which is now in India, will also attend. It is understood that Sir Mohamed Zafrulah Khan, member for supply, will lead the British Indian delegation. It is hoped that the conference will result in a joint war supply policy and the pooling of the capacities of every country participating, thus virtually making them self-supporting for war supply purposes, the deficiencies of one country being made good from the available or potential resources of the others. It is pointed out that any surplus production would be available for the general war effort of the Empire. The possibility is viewed of members establishing contacts on the more general problems of supply, and it is suggested that the conference members might encourage and engage in conversations with the Commerce Department of the Government of India on matters which could be described as predominantly civilian. At least one Government has indicated its desire to enter into wider discussions.