EMPIRE AFFAIRS

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 14, 16 July 1921, Page 5

EMPIRE AFFAIRS

PROGRESS OF CON-

FERENCE

HOW THE WORK IS DONE

•MB. MASSEY'S SATISFACTION.

(DNIIHt) PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.)

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(Keceived July 16, 11.50 a.m.) LONDON, 15th July.

Up to the present, the Imperial Conference has held twenty-four meetings. The opening speeches of the Prime Manistei'B disclosed the viewpoint of each Dominion on the various matters to be discussed. Then, came statements by Mr. Winston Churchill, regarding the Orown colonies and dependencies, and by Lord Curzon on the present state of foreign affairs. This cleared the way, and the Conference then dealt with the following subjects::—The' constitutional relationship between the component parts of the Empire; the European situation, as apart from foreign affairs generally; the Anglo-Japanese agreement, the mandates, particularly respecting Mesopotamia and Palestine, the League of Nations, naval and military air defence, German reparations, the Anglo-Egyptian policy, Empire communications on sea, land, and air, the development of civil aviation, telegraphic communications throughout the Empire, and the Imperial Shipping Committee's report on Imperial migration.

The discussions on these matters have not reached finality. In respect of some of them, committees, comprising ti&el overseas Prime Ministers, with, the English Ministers who are more particularly concerned, are sitting separately _to examine the questions in dietail, with the object of making recommendations to the Conference. For instance, the question of German reparations is being dealt with in a separate conference at the Treasury, •with the Chancellor of the_ Exchequer presiding, while such questions as sea, land, air, and telegraphic communications and the better dissemination of Empire news, migration, and the control of the New Hebrides, are being discusBed under the presidency of the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A decision on the Japanese Alliance is temporarily, in abeyance, pending proposals emanating from the American Government regarding the Washington Conference, ajid the conversations proceeding between the great Powers. Mr. Massey has attended every meeting of the Conference. His attitude has teen to approach all questions from the point of view of the unity of the Empire, with full consideration of New Zealand's interests. •He has expressed himself as pleased with the progress made, tha frankness and candour of the discussions, and the willingness on the part of the British .Government to place all the cards on the table, and civ« the overseas Prime Ministers the fullest information on every subject. Official reports have beep issued in defence- of rigid secrecy. • ■• " ..

Mr. Massey is strongly in favour of President Harding's conference, but, apart fixsn that, h* insists tliat New Zealand and Australia shall have a full opiportunity of discussing the Pacific. question. ' ,i '