ACHIEVEMENTS OF CONFERENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 106, 1 November 1926, Page 9

ACHIEVEMENTS OF CONFERENCE

REVIEW OF PROGRESS UP TO DATE

PART PLAYED BY MR BRUCE

(United Press Association.-^-Copyright.) LONDON, 30th October.

When the history of the Imperial Conference comes to be written, it will be found that Mr. Bruce played a most useful part in getting down to a more intimate exchange of viewpoints, after he had been instrumental in having the foreign relations discussion remitted to Earl Balfour, and a sub-committee. It was found that the sub-committee, through tho attendance of so many under-secretaries and legal advisers, was really more unwieldy than the conference itself. The Australian Press Agency understands that Mr. Bruce pointed this out, saying that it neutralised all the virtues of a round-table discussion. He asked if it was not possible to ' leave the Prime Ministers to themselves, so that they could have a really frank chat. This objective was^ achieved to-day, and it was generally felt to. have done a vast amount of good. For example, much may be said to show that the issue of national status was not really the issue at all, but that while there were varying opinions on the degree, there was nothing seriously divergent on fundamentals. Today's "family talk" is described as having' greatly cleared the way to a complete understanding in regard to the matter. Interesting messages are coming back from Capetown quoting General Hertzog 's declaration there that there is no difference of opinion about status, rather is it a question of necessity of communication and of Imperial relationship to the outside world. From the most authoritative quarter to-night the Australian Press Agency obtained the following summing-up of the discussions, though the atmosphere had becomemost friendly and was offering bright prospects of agreement on the most difficult subject of interImperial relations. This should not be taken to mean that there has not been any discordant notes. Some of the Dominions never had any difficulties on this particular problem, as their policy for many years had shown no deviation, and whatever political party has been in power they have stood consistently, in good times and bad, for Imperial unity. With them it has never been a question of finding Imperial connections irksonie. IRELAND'S GRIEVANCES. , On the other hand, some of the Dominions like South Africa -and the Free State, owing in the former case to tho local political and racial atmosphere, and in the latter ease to the fact that their peace with the Motherland is very recent and their memories of bitter events preceding the Irish Treaty still most poignant, could not bo expected to attain complete harmony with the Motherland all in a minute, but when the Empire family met together they soon discovered their dissonance was only skin-deep. When they come to meet together as equals with all the partners of the Empire, they realise that their discontent rests on the most slender of foundations. Though they may have seemed large and serious enough when at home, they appear from London to be reduced as when viewed from the wrong end of a telescope. In this connection the highest tribute is paid to Earl Balfour's tact in handling the situation, which in clumsier hands might have become delicate. '' litis an experienced master hand on such occasions," said the informant, "and you'll find we shall all bo brought together and that to the satisfaction of the greatest common good in a measure and an agreement in essentials will be found." AT THE ADMIRALTY. Members of the Conference spent a most valuable morning at the Admiralty hearing the most secret views on the world's fleets and strategy. The Australian Press Agiency gathers that though everyone at the Conference recognises that Japan is not., now the force to bo reckoned with, that she was before her recent troubles, nobody has yet said so in actual words, but the naval view is that the alteration of the outlook consequent upon these things has not changed the main fact that the Pacific and not the North Sea is now the most vital area from the viewpoint of the Empire's naval strategy. It is" understood that today's discussions reached the stage of considering the sharing of a portion of the burden of naval defence among the Dominions, even tp the examination of the form their contributions should take, but no decisions were reached. IN COLD STORE. There seems to be no serious opposition to the suggestion made by the Economic Sub-Committee for a compulsory periodic notification of the quantities of goods in cold store, though it is admitted that it must cover both British and Dominion ports. The adoption of the same idea regarding wool stocks is less favourably viewed at present, because it might react to the disadvantage .of the Dominions, especially Australia and New Zealand, though not due to the enlightenment of speculators. The sub-committee on mandates has agreed that, in addition to tho composite objection to the League'B new questionnaire, tho other suggested innovations already cabled that each mandatory Power should send its own reply to the League, based largely on Britain's strong memorandum already delivered to the League.

The Imperial Conference lias now been in progress for a sufficient time to enable observers to assess the position in regard to some of the more important problems faced by the Empire. Unity and foreign relations are covered in a comprehensive message published to-day.