MEETING WITH CHIFLEY

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24742, 6 December 1945, Page 5

MEETING WITH CHIFLEY

DISCUSSIONS AMONG UNION LEADERS

CONCESSIONS NEEDED FOR SETTLEMENT % (N.Z. Press Association-Copyright) (Rec. l am.) CANBERRA, Dec. 5. Prospects of a settlement of the Austrahan strikes as a result of thl conS n T e R et r^ n n the Prime Master nrliJ- ?V Ch L fley) and a delegation o? g S d i b T y - the Au str £ lasian CoVncil ?L ? de V nions > which was continulnS a i a late hour to-night, are exP« J pd t0 de P en d 0" how far the strike leaders are prepared to make conces-

Nearly one hour late because of a long private discussion among the union leaders, the conference did not start until 3.20 o'clock this afternoon A last-minute incident was the exclusion of the general secretary of the Seamen's Union (Mr T. V. Elliott) from the talks because he had not been invited by Mr P. J. Clarey to whom the Prime Minister had left the selection of the delegt tes. The delegates gave no hint whether their private conference had achieved anything specific to put before Mr Chifley. Indications are that the Australasian Council of Trade Unions is not likely ,to modify its opposition to the strike,! nor will the Prime Minister depart from his attitude of nonintervention, it will probably be a battle of tactics with the A.C.T.U. and the Labour Council delegates taking a firm stand behind Mr Chifley. Therefore, concessions by the strike leaders must be forthcoming if the conference is to succeed. Mr Clarey commented, on his arrival at Parliament House: "I am hopeful that a formula for a settlement will be reached."

DELEGATION TO INDIA

MEMBERS OF BRITISH PARLIAMENT

PROMOTING OBJECTIVE OF SELF-GOVERNMENT

LONDON, December 4. The Secretary of State for India (Lord Pethick-Lawrence) announced in the House of' Lords that the Government was arranging for a parliamentary delegation to go to India under the auspices of the Empire Parliamentary Association to restore personal contacts between members of the British Parliament and Indian political leaders. "The delegates will be able to convey personally the general wish and desire of the British people that India should attain her full and rightful position as an independent partner State in the British Commonwealth, and Parliament's desire to do everything within its power to promote a speedy attainment of that objective," he said.

He emphasised that the British Government regarded as a matter of the greatest urgency the establishment of a constitution-making body under which Indians could decide their own future. Other proposals embodied the Viceroy's plan, the significance of which was not properly appreciated in Indfa.

Orderly Transition Necessary | "During the transition to complete] self-government, India is passing! through difficult times. No greater; disservice could be done to the future : Indian Government or the cause of! democracy than to permit the foundations of the State to be weakened and the loyalty of servants to be undermined before, the new Government comes into being. "The Indian Government cannot divest itself of the responsibility of preserving law and order and resisting attempts to resolve the constitution issue by force. Realisation of self-govern-ment could only come by the orderly, peaceful transfer of the control machinery of the State to a purely Indian authority." / Lord Pethick-Lawrence said that the British Government would support the Indian Government in ensuring that the future Constitution should not be called into being by force or threat of force.

The Home Secretary (Mr Herbert Morrison) made an identical statement in the House of Commons. Replying to Opposition suggestions that it was preferable to send out a delegation under the auspices of the Government, having authorised terms of reference, Mr Morrison said that the composition would not be affected as it was proposed that they should select the delegation from all parties, but he would consider the representations.

SELF-GOVERNMENT FOR BURMA

(Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 4. The Governor of Burma. Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith, in an interview with Reuter's correspondent at Mandalay, said he had returned to Burma with a definite , programme for self-govern-ment at the earliest possible moment. The fulfilment of the programme depended on the Burmans themselves. He recalled the offer of seven c: the 11 seats on the Executive Council, made to the Anti-Fascist League. The door was still open to them, he said, as there were a few more seats to be filled.

DEMONSTRATIONS IN ISTANBUL

ANTI-COMMUNIST SLOGANS

(Rec. 10 p.m.) ISTANBUL, Dec. 5. A mob of 20,000 persons, in a sudden and violent anti-Communist demonstration, wrecked two newspaper plants and at least two book stores. Soldiers and hundreds of police patrolled the city early this« afternoon, because the throng, composed mostly of university and high school students, had not dispersed. The students, after wrecking the newspaper plants and also a Russian bookstall, traversed the main streets shouting "Kill the Communists," and "Down with Communism." Passing the American Consulate, they cried "Long live America." They saluted outside the British Embassy. Police and military forces blocked the approach to the Russian Embassy.

SOVIET PROPOSAL TO PERSIA

AZERBAIJAN QUESTION

LONDON, Dec. 4.

Reuter's correspondent in Teheran reports that the Persian Prime Minister (Hakimi) has called a Cabinet meeting to consider new proposals from the Soviet representative m Teheran, to the effect that Russia is prepared to meet most of Persia's wishes Persia treats the Azerbaijan question as a matter concerning only Russia and Persia.

DISSATISFIED WITH GREEK CABINET

E.A.M. WITHDRAWING SUPPORT

(Rec. 7 p.m.)

ATHENS, Dec. 4.

The Central Committee of E.A.M. has issued a statement withdrawing its support for the Sofoulis Cabinet because it has not granted an amnesty and also has not proceeded with the purging of the Government machine, or with the revision of electoral lists, or measures connected with the eco-| nomic relief of the people. j The Greek Government reached an' agreement with the UNRRA representatives in Athens on a tentative figure of £50,000.000 for UNRRA imports to Greece during 1946.