THE EMPIRE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18015, 6 March 1924, Page 11

THE EMPIRE.

WORK OF CONFERENCE

MR BRUCE INTERVIEWED. (BT CADI.E-PRESS ASSOCIATION" COPTRIGHT.) (AT 3TRALIAX J.XD -V.2. CABLE A3SOaATION.y (Received March sth. 7.30 p.m.) PEHTH, March 6. Mr Bruce (Federal Prime Minister) arrived hv tlie Osterk-y. not the Orsova. Ho said he would make a full statement regarding the Imperial Conference when Parliament assembled on March 'iCth. He declared that the work of tlie Conference would prove invaluable to the Empire in the future. The outstanding result was the appreciation by all delegates that the ties which hind the Empire together must be maintained and strengthened. Tha breaking-up of the Empire would be a disaster to Britain, the Dominions and the whole world. He was convinced that the holding of a. Constitutional Conference at the presont time, to attempt to lay down a basis for the relations between the different self-governing parts of the Empire, would be a grave mistake. Time and gradual evolution would brinjs a solution of all our problems. One great result of the Conference was a clear definition of the position and status of the Imperial Conference in Lnipiro affairs. He thought that even the strongest advocates of an Empire Parliament were now cotiviiii> ed that the idea was impracticable. We were therefore left with the Imperial Conference which, while it might frame proposals believed to be advantageous, could not make them binding on any part of the Empirfe until they received the ratification of the respective Parliaments. On the question of the foreign relations of the Dominions, the Confeienee clearly recognised that every selfgoverning part of the Empire was absolutely independent in its relations within the Empire, and independent as far as the security of the Empire permitted in its relations with foreign nations.

lieferring to Empire trade and Preference, Mr Bruce &aid that most of the British people now recognised that they had to look to the Empire's gteat undeveloped heritage for their future prosperity. If the Conference had done nothing more than awaken British interest in the possibilities of the Empire, then it would bavi) justified itself.

While there was no obligation on the British Parliament to accept the Preference proposals of the Baldwin Government, he sincerely trusted that in the interests of Britain herself, they would be accepted. The Mac Donald Government had undertaken to submit them, and h© felt confident that moet of them would be carried by a large majority.

Referring to his visit to Gallipoli, Mr Bruce said he waa satisfied that Australians would appreciate what had been done in the care of the cemeteries there.