MEETING IN LONDON

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 71, Issue 37, 23 November 1950, Page 5

MEETING IN LONDON

COMMONWEALTH PREMIERS WIDE RANGE OF SUBJECTS (N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright). (Rec. 9.20 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 22. Commonwealth Prime Ministers will meet in London at the beginning of January to discuss the international situation, the Prime Minister, Mr Clement Attlee, told the House of Commons to-day. All Prime Ministers will attend the conference personally except Dr. D. F. Malan, of South Africa, who has been ill. The meeting is expected to start about January 4, and will last about 10 days. The main purpose of the meeting will be to review the many developments in international affairs since the last Commonwealth Foreign Ministers meeting at Colombo in January, 1950. There was a meeting of Finance Ministers in July, 1949. There were discussions on .economic ana trade matters at the time of the meeting of the Consultative Committee on SouchEast Asia in September this year, but Ihere has rot been a Premier’s confer dice .since that of April, 1949, which was convened specially to deal with the issue of India’s decision to adopt a Republican Constitution. The previous Premier’s conference was in October, 1948. Discussions will necessarily cover the whole international situation and the problems facing members of the Commonwealth in their endeavours to preserve peace and safeguard freedom and justice. It may. be assumed mat the review will include the campaign in Korea, the coume of events in Soutli-ea3t Asia, relations, with China, recent events in Tibet, affairs in Europe and the building, up of the North Atlantic Treaty' Organisation. The metings, which will be of an informal character, will provide an opportunity for a personal exchange of views.

It is the normal practice on these occasions for the Prime Ministers to be accompanied by small personal staffs only. In accordance with the practice of former pccaeions, it is un* likely that there will be any formal agenda. The Prime Ministers will probably consider their programme at the first session, and decide upon the order in which the various subjects are to be dealt with. In addition to full sessions attended by all Commonwealth representatives, there may be opportunities, as on previous occasions, for certain Ministers to have informal meetings with representatives of one or more of the other countries on particular topics. Part in World Affairs British Ministers, in addition to the Prime Minister, who will be mainly concerned in the meetings, are likely to be the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Defence and the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations. Agreement of the Commonwealth Ministers to meet in London at this juncture in spite of their many preoccupations and responsibilities is an indication of the great importance which is attached to Commonwealth high-level consultation in the light of the potential dangers of the world situation. It is a sign to the world at large that Commonwealth statesmen share a belief in the value of the part that Commonwealth countries can play in international affairs, and that they are ready and anxious to give their time and counsel in the interests of world peace. The Prime Ministers who will attend the conference are Mr Robert Menzies (Australia), Mr Louis St. Laurent (Canada), Mr Jawaharlal Nehru (India), Mr Liaduat Ali Khan (Pakistan), Mr S. G. Holland (New Zealand), Mr - Don- Stephen Senanayake (Ceylon), Sir Godfrey Higgins (Southern Rhodesia). South Africa’s representative has not, yet been named. The Prime Ministers’ conference will be the first at which a Republic (India) will have an opportunity of taking part as a member of the Commonwealth.