PREMIERS’ CONFERENCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 June 1921, Page 5

PREMIERS’ CONFERENCE

DOMINION AMBASSADORS. NEW HEBRIDES. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association? LONDON, June 26. It is understood that a good deal of foreign policy discussion at the conference centred round Bolshevism and Russian possibilities. Equilibrium is being re-established in spite of bitter propaganda of extremists, which is now being countered. The Treaty of London was frequently mentioned. The New Hebrides condominium question is beginning to attract attention, feeling hardening against joint control. Opinion favours the administration by one, country. Some consider the most reasonable solution would be to treat the Islands similarly to mandate territory. France might be persuaded to surrender her interests in consideration of an equivalent elsewhere, or some financial arrangement, probably the control would pass to Australia. An official discussion has not taken place, but the matter is likely to be considered before the Ministers separate. The proposal that each Dominion shall bo permanently represented at the Foreign Office has had mixed reception. This and Canada’s determination to have an ambassador at

Washington is regarded by the majority of the Prime Ministers as an indication of a fanlike development creating highly paid posts, adding to the present expenditure without adequate return. Mr. Hughes believes in his plan to keep the Dominions’ leaders constantly informed of world wide developments, instead of hearing of a thing to be done when it has been done. His colleagues approve of the principle but are not inclined to assume additional financial burden by multiplication of new appointments, which are unpopular in the present economic times. It is considered certain that if Canada persists in her Washington plans, other Dominions twill claim similar privileges elsewhere. DELEGATES IN HURRY. Recd. 1 p.m. LONDON, June 27. Mr Hughes and Mr Massey are, already fretting at the Conference’s delays, and voice their disappointment at the lack m progress on the resumption on Monday. Time is limited by Mr Meighen’s determination to return to Canada before August, and General Smuts’s anxiety to hasten home. The fear is expressed that so much time was wasted over the preliminaries that detailed discussion on essentials will be cramped. The, Pacific’s defence, which is considered of first importance by the Australasian delegates, may be put into the background unless Mr' Hughes’s persistence restores it to light. Discussion thus far has shown that Mr Hughes and Mr Meighcn a-e opponents. Mr Hughes challenged Air Meighen on the Washington Ambassador question early, and now strongly criticises his marked bias towards the United States.

.Mr Hughes approves of Mr Lloyd George’s statement that friendly cooperation with the I nited States is tho cardinal principle, dictated by what seems to be the proper nature of tilings by instinct, quite as much by reason and common sense. Beyond this, however, he considers that the interests of the Empire are paramount, and not affected by outside considerations. There was some frank critism at the Conference on Monday, though not unfriendly in nature. Some delegates expressed disappointment at the explanation of the foreign policy, contending that no essentially new facts had been disclosed. There was nothing so secret as could not have been cabled or communicated by letter.