The Waikato Times FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 1940 EMPIRE CO-OPERATION

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21187, 9 August 1940, Page 4

The Waikato Times FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 1940 EMPIRE CO-OPERATION

Closer war-time and peace-time co-operation between the eastern Dominions and colonies of the British Entire is the objective of a conference to be held at Delhi in October. Representatives of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the East African colonies, the Sudan, Malaga and India will meet at the invitation of the Viceroy of India, Lord Linlithgow. Special attention is to be given to the production of war materials, but post-war developments will also be discussed. It is clear that such a conference has become necessary not only for the effective prosecution of the war effort but also to promote commercial and cultural relations when peace has returned. A closely-knit Empire rather than a series of disjointed Dominions and colonies is obviously one of the greatest needs. Of most urgent importance is the supply of munitions. All portions of the Empire are keenly aware of the threat to their security by several enemies. They need a rapid acceleration of their armament programmes, and so far they have been depending almost entirely upon the distant British Isles for their requirements. By pooling their resources and establishing armament industries in the most favourable positions they could to a large extent supply their own needs and at the same time relieve Britain of a substantial portion of her burden, freeing her factories for the production of her needs at home. The Dominions and colonies are too old and too mature to need to lean entirely upon Britain in the hour of greatest need. Certainly in times of peace British factories have welcomed orders from the overseas Empire for all their requirements, since the export trade is the life of Britain, and that aspect of the case will not be forgotten when the Empire discusses the problem. In the meantime, however, it is simply a case of life or death, and Britain herself would welcome relief from the strain of supplying so many overseas countries when her own forces are calling aloud for more and better military equipment. The war must first be won by whatever means are possible, and the readjustment of trade problems can be settled afterwards. The eastern Dominions and colonies must attempt to stand on their own feet and in addition go to the aid of their mother country. It is possible that the Empire conference will decide that it should concentrate upon the munitions industries now being established in Australia and India, with the aid of whatever can be done in the other Empire countries. It should be a co-operative effort, and the situation demands immediate action. But the conference can also take the opportunity to look forward to the circumstances that may be expected after the war. Reorientation of the whole trade structure may be necessary. It is hoped that the end of the war will see the reopening of foreign trade channels which have been choked for many years, but the Empire must make doubly sure that within its own territories it provides for the greatest possible exchange of trade lest the wider rearrangement is impossible or is delayed. New Zealand itself with an ever-increasing surplus of exportable produce is a good example of an Empire country which after the war will need to spread its trade more widely. Britain will not be able to absorb it all.