MUTUAL EFFORT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 October 1940, Page 5

MUTUAL EFFORT

BY EMPIRE COUNTRIES EAST OF SUEZ FOR OVERTHROW OF POWERS OF EVIL. NEW DELHI CONFERENCE. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 26. Reports from New Delhi describe how the Eastern. Group Supply Conference was opened by the Viceroy, Lord Linlithgow, on Friday. Representatives from many parts of the Empire were present. In his opening address, the Viceroy said that the conference implied that those parts of the Empire east and south of Suez were about to investigate the assumption of new responsibilities to relieve the Mother Country of such burdens as they could bear themselves at a time when Britain was preoccupied with difficult problems, and bravely bearing the brunt of the enemy’s attack. A message from Mr Churchill to the conference said that it was to plan a mutual integration of resources and was a remarkable event in the defence of the Empire's common freedom. “You are building up a new world in armed strength to redress the balance of the old,” he said. “We here will find fresh encouragement in your labours and look to the day when the forces creatd by all our efforts, both east and west, will advance together for the final overthrow of the powers of evil.” “The Times,” in a leading article, describes the primary aim of the New Delhi conference as “to enable British countries east and south of Suez to collaborate more fully one with another in supplying the needs of forces and garrisons in the eastern 'half of the British Empire, specially those in Egypt and Palestine, which are defending the vital link of the Suez Canal,” and finds in recent events a signal of the need for speedy decisions and swift action.

It adds that the formation of the Eastern Group is a response to the demands of war, but it is safe to say that the machinery created by the conference will long outlast the emergency which called it into being and will be of the greatest utility in meeting the economic difficulties which will arise after the war has been won.

Delegates from the Netherlands East Indies are attending the Empire economic conference as observers. They have stated that they are anxious to contribute to the common effort.