IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 June 1937, Page 7

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

NATIONALITY STATUS OVERSEAS’ RIGHTS PRESERVED V [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] 1 (Recd. June 8. 2 p.m.). LONDON, June 7. That Australians and New Zealand-: ers should retain their status as British subjects will be recognised in the report .of the Imperial Conference Constitutional Committee, which is being issued to-morrow. It is understood that conclusions satisfactory to air the Dominions were reached. It is gathered that during the discussions, New Zealand and Australia intimated that they were averse to introducing legislation similar to Canada’s and South Africa’s nationality laws. *

The report deals with the status of .individuals, with respect to. their citizenship of the British Commonwealth, and more particularly with respect to their citizenship,of individual Dominions. This involves nationality in connection with residence in the Dominions, including immigration laws, whether one Dominion should receive citizens of another, and whether it is entitled, to deport them. It is gathered that the Conference decided it shall be within the competence of each member of the Commonwealth to decide who shall constitute its own citizens. For example, every Dominion is free to confer its own citizenship on any national or group of national is it chooses, but it has been agreed that any Dominion adopting classes or categories of nationals under its own citizenship shall, as occasion arises, consult and co-operate with' other members of the British Commonwealth.

CANADA AND EMPIRE

(Received June 8,2 p.m.)

LONDON, June 7.

The Australian Associated Press political correspondent learns that any possibility of the Imperial Conference adopting important resolutions, as the result of the foreign affairs discussions, has vanished, as the result of Mr. King’s attitude. it transpires that Mr. MacKenzie King has been the stumbling block throughout,, adopting the attitude that Canada is safe under America’s wing, and /that the rest of the Empire should look after itself in the best way it can. It is believed that Mr. MacKenzie King even went as far as to say that, while Canada supported the Empire, it was not going to be dragged into any European upset, or even to fight, say, for Egypt, or perhaps for any part of the Empire. This attitude resulted in to-day’s meeting of the heads of delegations having to recast the foreign policy resolutions, drafted as the result of earlier speeches. ■/ ■. ' It is understood that the resolutions provided for Empire unity on certain questions, including support of the League of NatjpnsA^ T -? ; . 1

PACIFIC PACT. (Received June 8, "11.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 7. ■ Replying to the toast of his health, at the Foreign Press Association’s luncheon at the Savoy Hotel, at whiqh the Press of almost the whole world were represented, Mr. Lyons said,that Australia was difectly concerned in the Pacific, wherein, was proposed a pact of non-aggression. Australia, desired to'live in peace with her neighbours. Unfortunately, the. equilibrium established by the Washington treaties was somewhat dissipated. Australia 'was. faced with , a new set of circumstances, and wanted to renew the principles underlying those treaties. He believed that other nations were equally, anxious for peace, so the proposed pact did not ask for any .special commitments, except'that all should denounce war as a means of settling differences, and agree to meet around the table, to discuss problems, and accept the principle of nonaggresSion. Personally, he believed that it was possible of achievement. PACIFIC SHIPPING.

(Received June 8, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 7.

Sir Edward Beatly, Chairman of the Canadian Pacific, arrived at Southampton. He says that if England, Australia. Canada, and New Zealand agreed to subsidise shipping, he would order two twenty-two thousand ton liners, which would be retidy for the Australia-Canada service by the winter of 1939-40. He added: We must build new tonnage or lose a vital link in Imperial trade. , r . . .. Hector Bywater, writing in the “Telegraph,” understands that immediate parliamentary action is likely to enable the construction of two subsidised Pacific ships. The ’ Shipping Committee, dealing with trans-Pacific and trans-Tasman services, has now submitted tentative suggestions for the main delegates consideration.

REPORTS APPROVED

[BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.]

RUGBY, June 7.

At a meeting of the principal delegates of the Imperial Conference, the report ot the committee on economic questions was submitted by Mr. Havenga and approved. Mi'. Lapointe submitted a repoit on constitutional questions, and this was also approved.