DEBATE ON MR. BRUCE'S SPEECH

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 28, 2 August 1923, Page 7

DEBATE ON MR. BRUCE'S SPEECH

SOiME CRITICAL MEMBERS

"IRON BANDS OF IMPERIALISM."

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPTMGHT.)

MELBOURNE, Ist August,

In the House of Representatives the rank nnd file discussion on Mr. Bruce's Imperial Conference statement disclosed a great variety of views.

Mr. Blakeloy urged tho importance of a reparations settlement, and said the first action of the Imperial Conference should be to call an international conference to discuss the Ruhr crisis.

Mr. Maim put in a plea for Freetv.ido instead of the suggested Imperial preferences, declaring that Australia could only take her place among the nations by recognising the principle of the interchange of commerce between nations.

Mr. Brenuan had a tilt at the Empire defence propceuls, saying it would bo better that Australia should pursue a peaceful policy to the point oi crucifixion than that she shoul associate herself in wars of depredation to' gain victories of might over right such as had been seen on the other side of the world.

Mr. Scullin declared that Mr. Bruce's policy would disintegrate the Empire. The silken ties of kinship had endured for many years, and he hoped they would endure, growing stronger witli time. Democracy would endure these silken ties, but not the iron bands of Imperialism.