EMPIRE ASSEMBLY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 247, 18 October 1926, Page 7

EMPIRE ASSEMBLY.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR CONFERENCE. DOMINION FREEDOM OF ACTION. LOXDOX, October 17. The Imperial Conference will open'on Tuesday. Mr. Stanley Baldwin will be accompanied by the Secretaries of State for Foreign Affairs and the Dominions. Sir Austen Chamberlain and Mr. L. C. M. S. Amcry respectively, and probably by the Lord President of the Council, the Earl of Balfour. The Secretary of State for India, the Earl of Birkenhead, will be in attendance as one of India's representatives. It is generally thought that the conference will last five weeks, as was tae case in 1023, when Lord t urzon was the mouthpiece of the Ministry. Sir Austen Chamberlain will next week traverse fully foreign relations, including the Locarno Pact, upon which a general debate is expected, notably as to the Dominions' position in relation to Britain's commitments. It is in this connection that the claims of South Africa ami the Irish Free State in the direction of independence are expected to arise. It is expected that the question of the freedom of action of the Dominions will be discussed. There is a presumption that Britain is anxious to increase this with a definition of some limit, especially in the event of war as a result of treaties which may not have been ratified by the Dominions. In a smaller degree the question of independence or inter-dependence is likely to arise in regard to the Council of the League of Nations representation. Ireland's recent candidature has been interpreted as an approved feeler for the rest of the Dominions. Whereas the voting revealed that only South Africa supported the "baby Dominion." it can be stated with authority that neither Mr. S. M. Bruce (Australia) nor Mr. J. G. Coates (Xew Zealand) will raise the question of a non-permanent seat tenable in rotation. CANADA'S DELEGATES. A PROSPEROUS DOMINION. i Received 1 p.mh LONDON, October 17. Mr. Mackenzie Kine has arrived at Liverpool accompanied by Mr. Ernest Lapointe, Minister of Justice. Mr. Mulvey. Under-Secretary of State, and Mr. Blair, deputy Minister of Migration. Mr. King stated that they hoped textend mutually preferential interImperial trade agreements. The harvest, he said, would yield enough to make Canada the world's leading wheat exporter in 1020. She was now the world's third gold producing country, j The Government was substantially | reducing taxation. Migration was growing and the business barometer was at "Set fair."