Commonwealth Dilemma

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32232, 26 February 1970, Page 11

Commonwealth Dilemma

(N.Z PA.-Reuter—Copyright)

LONDON, Feb. 25.

The Commonwealth . will make another attempt today to settle on a date and place for the next summit conference of its 28 Presidents i and Prime Ministers.

The British Prime Minister (Mr Wilson) has suggested that the conference might be held in a Commonwealth capital other than London, the usual site; but some of

the leaders have already made clear their preference for the British capital.

In addition to studying the problem of the next conference, the Commonwealth heads of government are also considering a proposal that the Commonwealth SecretaryGeneral (Mr Arnold Smith) should be appointed for another five-year term of office.

Mr Smith, a, distinguished Canadian diplomat, is the first holder of the post, established in August, 1965. The “Daily Telegraph" says that the proposal to reappoint Mr Smith has met with assent from some governments, but with strong objections from President Banda of Malawi, who believes that the office should be filled by rotation. He also considers that the first five years of the Commonwealth Secretariat's existence were bedevilled by its handling of the Rhodesian issue.

The high commissioners of the Commonwealth diplomatic missions in London and representatives of the British Government will meet at the Commonwealth Secretariat to report their governments’ views of the proposed meeting, and to try to seek agreement.

They failed to reach any decision at a similar meeting nine days ago because many of the governments had not

made up their minds when or where the leaders should meet. Six nations, including Britain, favoured a meeting next July. Five. including Canada, Australia and New Zealand, did not want one this year, and suggested July of next year, according to diplomatic sources. Whether the conference will be held this year or held

over until mid-1971 will probably be decided by the preferences of about 10 countries, mostly African, who did not commit themselves at the previous meeting. Canada, Singapore, Trinidad and Britain have all been mentioned as possible venues.