EMPIRE MATTERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 226, 24 September 1938, Page 10

EMPIRE MATTERS.

DIVERGENT VIEWS.

DELEGATES TO CONFERENCE. DISCUSSIONS ON DEFENCE. Though no pronouncement indicative of the decisions reached by the British Commonwealth Relations Conference was made, the results of the discussions held were considered eminently satisfactory. This statement was made by one of the members of the Canadian delegation, Professor W. H. Brittain, when he arrived to-day by the Maimganui. Professor Brittain, who is dean of the School of Agriculture, University of Mcfiill, will visit Massev Agricultural College and tlie Cawthron Institute Nelson, before he resumes his homeward journey by the Niagara. Emphasising that tlie conference was absolutely unofficial. Professor Brittain said the Ottawa agreement was considered, and it was agreed that, while it was a satisfactory measure at the emergency period wljen it was drawn up. it could now bear revision. Canadian delegates, however, seemed fairlv satisfied with the agreement as it now stood. Military and naval defence, and the economic problems of defence, were discussed. This brought forth some enlightening on the attitude of various parts of the Empire. Though no period was set aside for straight-out discussion of the crisis in European affairs, the shadow of events in Czechoslovakia hung constantly over the conference and coloured most of the dis--1 cussions.

Professor W. H. Brittain.

Questioned regarding the attitude of Canada toward defence, Professor Brittain said it was impossible to obtain

"a Canadian opinion." It must be remembered that one-third of the population were French Canadians, who did not. have the ties binding them to Great Britain that the people of Sew Zealand did. There were other elements in the Canadian population, making -with the French-Canadians, about 40 per cent of the population who did not hold the same opinions as the British and Irish stock. American opinions ato influenced the Canadians, as many of them had relations in the United States. Thus one found it difficult to gain "a Canadian opinion.'' Views expressed by Canadians at the conference revealed wide divergence of opinion. The discussions of the conference, he said, were fully reported and would soon appear in l>ook form. The public would then be able to weigh for themselves the opinions expressed.