LABOR CONFERENCE

Evening Star, Issue 19004, 28 July 1925, Page 8

LABOR CONFERENCE

GATHERING IN LONDON MR MACDONALD ON MANY SUBJECTS Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, July 27. (Received July 28, at 12.25 p.m.) A conference of representatives of the Labor parties of Britain and the dominions was opened in the Empire Parliamentary Rooms in the House, of Commons. Air Ramsay MacDonald presiding. Ho described as “ fudge and humbug” the assumption that (ho Tory was the only party caring for the Empire, and claimed that Labor was the first party to recognise that Empire development was so important as to require study on the spot . Ho described the Dominion Preference policy as building a, high wall against the foreigner and a lower wall against Britain, but the latter was never so low as to prevent the dominions establishing a complete industry. Britain did not object to that, and must recognise that preference was an indication of the dominions’ good-will. Ho suggested a scheme whereby committees, under Government control, should make wholesale purchases of goods procured under line labor conditions, to- enable countries to benefit as communities, not as capitalistic sections. , . Referring to foreign affairs. Air MacDonald declared that the dominions were consulted at every stage ol the negotiations on the Protocol, which the Government rejected, apparently for no other reason than because it was advocated by the Laborit-cs. r l be dominions crime .to the conclusion that the Protocol was the best that could be done, and was a co-operative affair throughout, and at the Inst meet ing the dominions decided to sign. Air AlacDonald considered the idea that Britain should bo the policeman of the. world was a profound mistake. The sooner they returned to a limited responsibility and trusted to tho seifdevelopment of the people Hie better. He hoped that the conference would sit periodically, like the Imperial Conference. , . . , The conference resolved on a private session.—Renter.