"NOT NECESSARY"

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 165, 26 April 1935, Page 5

"NOT NECESSARY"

TALKS ON FOREIGN POLICY.

THE EUROPEAN SITUATION.

MR FORBES STATES HIS VIEWS. (United Press Association— Copyright). OTTAWA, April 24. London dispatches that an Empire Conference on trade and defence is contemplated creates little interest in Canada, on the grounds that Canada has nothing in particular to discuss. The Prime Minister of New Zealand (the Rt. Hen. G. W. Forbes), interviewed, sees no; necessity for a discussion of Empire defence or the foreign policy of the United Kingdom. New Zealand was kept informed of the progress of negotiations with Germany and other European nations. When Britain was at war the rest of the Empire was at war. No discussion had taken place with New Zealand as to participation or non-participation in any future Avar involving the Empire, which was the greatest agency for peace, in the world. New Zealanders were confident that Britain would always be on the side of iieace and would make no commitments not absolutely necessary. "We do not have to discuss those things," said Mr Forbes. If another war broke out he expected that New Zealand would act as promptly as in 1914, and there would be no necessity for the calling of Parliament to decide what should be done. Mr. Forbes is the guest of the Gover-nor-General (Earl Bessboiough) at Government House. He leaves on Thursday for New York, sailing on Friday for London. He sTiid that he was studying the New Zealand-Canada trade with the greatest"interest, and declared that there was evidence that if increased attention was paid in Canada to New Zealand products there would be important repercussions on the exchange of goods generally.

REPORT FROM LONDON. LONDON, April 23. The discussions between the Prime Ministers of the Dominions and representatives of the British Government on Empire defence and the European situation will commence early in May when Messrs R. B. Bennett, J. A. Lyons, and G. W. Forbes and General Hertzog will meet Mr J. Ramsay Mac'Donald and Sir John Simon. There will be no prearranged agenda, but Sir John Simon will survey the most recent happenings in Europe, after which general, informal, and private discussions will take place. No details will be published. The Prime Ministers will confer with the Committee of Imperial Defence, including the Service Chiefs.