ECONOMIC POLICY

Evening Star, Issue 25168, 6 May 1944, Page 4

ECONOMIC POLICY

DIFFERENCES OVER IMPERIAL CONSULTATIONS (Rec. noon.) RUGBY. May 5. The attendance of the Chancellor ot the Exchequer, Sir John Anderson, at to-day's session of the Prime Ministers' conference is taken to indicate that the Prime Ministers arc proceeding to examination of the economic policy

which is closely bound up with the post-war security plans, details of which have already been, made known to the dominion premiers by Mr Eden. It is understood that Sir John's survey is likely to give rise to discussions over a wide range of allied subjects, from the recently announced currency agreement, ' to reciprocal trade agreements, and the possibility of undertaking a development policy based on an Imperial Investments Board., Mr Curtin's plan for an Empire Secretariat is still provoking the liveliest debates among the delegations accom;pauving the Prime Ministers. Canadian newspaper correspondents believe that the cleavage between Australian and Canadian views on future Imperial consultations is now too wide to be breached, but it is learned that Mr Churchill and Lord Cranborne are still most anxious to secure unanimity between the Prime Ministers, for which reason renewed discussions on the Imperial machinery are expected next week. . , ~ After a week of continuous daily sittings the Prime Ministers have already dealt in detail with the immediate prosecution of the European and Far Eastern wars, armistice terms,, and tariff policy. There was only one meeting to be held to-day, after which the Prime Ministers are not expected to resume formal consultations until Monday. '