IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 7, 9 January 1926, Page 9

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

TO MEET VERY SOON. THE IRAQ QUESTION. (By Cable. —Press Association.—'Copyright.) LONDON, January S. The political correspondent of the "Daily Express" says that the rapid march of foreign affairs has persuaded the Government of the desirability of the holding of another Imperial Conference at the earliest possibl^date. The Cabinet it is stated, is specially concerned over the attitude of the Dominions in connection with the Locarno Treaty. There is also the growing realisation nf the Dominions of the grave obligations involved by the Iraq mandate, which also will be discussed at the coming conference. The development of the disarmament problem, similarly, cannot be settled without the collaboration of the Dominions; indeed, as regards tbe Pacific Australia and Canada may claim to have the deciding voice. The Government, the correspondent states, is most anxious to consult the Dominions regarding the Singapore base. The method of spending the grant of £1.000,000 that has been made for marketing Empire produce, it is added, also calls for discussion. This problem has occasioned a dispute in the Cabinet and hence the money thus far has not been touched. It has not yet been decided whether there shall be a separate economic conference. The Government hopes to hold the Imperial Conference in June, but is prepared to accept any date not later than the end of October.— (A. and NZ Cable.)