CO-OPERATION IN EMPIRE

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 21026, 30 November 1933, Page 9

CO-OPERATION IN EMPIRE

MR BRUCE'S APPEAL RESOLUTE POLICY URGED (BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.) (Received November 29, 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY, November 23. Mr Stanley Bruce, High Commissioner for Australia, speaking in London, expressed the view that a strong and resolute policy of imperial co-operation was at present a paramount necessity. A start toward such a policy was made at Ottawa, but his complaint was that the Ottawa Conference had been treated as an isolated incident and not as the laying of a foundation upon which should be built the great structure of inter-Imperial i trade. I Great Britain, with her relatively large population, had a valuable home market, great supplies of capital, and unrivalled experience. The Dominions and the dependent Empire had the resources, but not the home markets, capital, or experience. With a policy of financial and economic co-operation the British nation could face the difficult conditions of the next few years with confidence. I He suggested co-opting a small group of the best men available, who, divorced from all other inter- 1 ests and activities, could devote their whole time to the paramount imperVl problem. SPEECH APPROVED QUESTION FOR GOVERNMENT COMMENT OK "THE TIMES" (Received November 29, 9.45 p.m.) LONDON, November 29. Commenting on Mr Stanley Bruce's speech, "The Times" says: "No one will deny the necessity for the co-operation suggested by Mr Bruce, but the public has hitherto assumed, as it is surely entitled to do, that the difficulties he described had been foreseen and met, and that inter-departmental Cabinet committees were studying the problems as a whole and working out a co-ordinated programme. "It is assumed that the Government has a policy of economic rei construction into which its agriculI tural schemes and the development of export trade through, treaties | wilh foreign countries and agreements with the Dominions are all j carefully fitted. I "Here is a question about adi ministrative machinery to which it j should be easy to give a definite ] answer."