EMPIRE POLICY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17985, 31 January 1924, Page 9

EMPIRE POLICY.

WHERE LABOUR STANDS

MR THOMAS PUTS THE CASE. (li 7 CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION COFTBIGttT.) (EECTZE's TELEGHAHS.) LONDON, January 29. Mr J. H. Thomas (Secretary of State for tho Colonies) received Empire journalists at the Colonial Office when he outlined at length the Government's .Empire policy. Ho referred at the outset to the nonsense talked about Labour being anti-Empire and the new Government being only restrained from upsetting existing arrangements because they had not a majority to give them tho necessary power. He admitted thnt the tone had now changed. No Government had received a more encouraging send-off, but there were still elements of apprehensions and suspicion throughout the Empire.- Ho wished to dispel such feelings.

Labour did have some idea of a New Jerusaleum, but only desired to advance by reasonable and prudent steps. Ho emphasised that all the Ministers were assisted by a great Civil Service which Mr Thomas said he found, as lie expected, was composed of able., devoted men who placed the interests of tie State above all other interests. He yielcd to none in his desiro to promote the welfare of the Empire and to draw cloaer its tics.

"The Labour Party," he said, "regards it as a Bacred tni3t which, we must develop impartially and freelj'. Nobody is able to say how long we shall remain in office, and I am genuinely anxious that when wo relinquish office no one in this great Empire will be able to say it is les3 great as a result of our work."

In reply to a question, Mr Thomas said it would be madness to assume that ho would accept all his predecessors had done. It had been decided that tho Empire could bo developed and unemployment in Britain could be helpod by the expeendituro of money on Empire development. He said that tho resolutions of the Imperial Conference would be considered by Cabinet. "We adhere to Mr Mac Donald's statement on tho subject. 1 ' One of Mr Thomas's first difficulties was the Kenya colony, to which lie had given more consideration than to any other. Ho said emphatically that his first duty was to tho African natives. Neither European nor Indian interest would divert Cabinet from the obligations thereto, and the policy enunciated in a White Paper recently issued would most likely be followed. Tho Labour Party desired that fair play and fair dealing which bound tho great free Dominions to the Motherland should be continued. . And as to the Colonies, Labour regarded them as a sacred trust to develop freely and impartially for tho good of all. .