LONDON CONFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 170, 19 July 1924, Page 7

LONDON CONFERENCE.

DOMINIONS DELEGATES. OBJECTION BY ALLIES. LONDON, July 18. Although the form in which the various Dominions will, be represented on the Inter-Allied Conference has not yet been determined, the probability is that if the Empire is represented by three delegates, one of them will attend as representing the Dominions, but this representative will not necessarily be the same person on each occasion. The Secretary of State for the Colonies, Mr. J. H. Thomas, attended yesterday's sitting in view of the fact that the question of direct Dominions' representation was then pending. The Australian, Canadian, New Zealand and South African High Commissioners conferred with Mr. Thomas this morning in reference to the Allied Conference, but it is stated .that nothing was settled pending the arrival of fresh information from Canada. It is understood that the difficulty respecting the Dominions' representation at the Allied Conference arises from arranging a compromise acceptable to. the Dominions without evoking protests from France and the other Allies. The latter are opposed to each Dominion being separately represented, thus giving the British Empire six votes on contentious matters. The Dominions are reluctant to surrender the separate representation given at Versailles, especially as the present conference is the outcome of the Versailles Treaty. An official communique in reference to the Inter-Allied Conference says the work will be continued to-day by the committee. The first committee met at the Foreign Office under the chairmanship of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. P. Snowden. The third sat under the chairmanship of Sir Robert Kinrlersley, a director of the- Bank of England. The second committee sits to-morrow under the chairmanship of Mr. Thomas. The Government gave a dinner to delegates to the conference. The Prime Minister, Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald, presided, and the company included the High Commissioners for Australia. South Africa, New" Zealand, the Irish Free State and India. —(Reuter.)