NOT IN AGREEMENT

Evening Star, Issue 25089, 2 February 1944, Page 5

NOT IN AGREEMENT

LORD HALIFAX'S PLANS FOR ' EMPIRE UNITY CANADA'S UNFAVOURABLE POSITION OTTAWA, January 31. The Prime Minister, Mr Mackenzia King, declared in the House of. Commons that he did not favour the proposals put forward by Field-Marshal Smuts and Lord Halifax that the British Empire should form a solid group of nations. He added that he rather supported l close collaboration with all nations seeking peace, riot only those inside the Coinmoriweaith.. Replying to questions, Mr Mackenzie King said, he was unable toi interpret the views expressed by Lord Halifax at Toronto. "I think he. was speaking only for himself," the Prime Minister said, "I have been informed that he was not making any pronouncement on behalf of the British Government, [n some respects-the speech'has not been understood as Lord Halifax would have liked it to be understood., He wanted to bring before the public certain thoughts that it would be well for us all to consider, but I think it was unfortunate that the speech should have been made at this particular time. .' "Behind the conception expressed by Field-Marshal Smuts and Lord Halifax lurks the idea of inevitable rivalry between great Powers," the Prime Minister said. " Could Canada, situated geo. graphically between the United Etates and the Soviet Union, and at the same time a member of the British Commonwealth, for one moment support such an idea? " he asked.