EMPIRE RELATIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 September 1938, Page 7

EMPIRE RELATIONS

EIRE’S NEW OUTLOOK CO-OPERATION WITH BRITAIN [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN —COPYBIGHT.] SYDNEY, September 6. During a discussion on the status of Ireland in the Empire at to-day’.-session of the British Commonwealth Relations Conference, it was stated frankly that whatever the Eire Government may have said hitherto, A would be with Britain in the event of war. It was stated that Ireland was a great spiritual empire with its people .in all parts of the world. Ireland was yearning to be on the side of the British Commonwealth. Speakers made it clear that Irish opinion was as strongly opposed to dictatorships' as was British opinion. One Relegate declared that Ireland was now a satisfied Power, except

for the question of partition, and the delegates generally agreed that a solution of the partition problem was desirable in the interests of the British Commonwealth. The conference listened with keen interest to a discussion on Australian problems, including “White Australia,” migration, and mandated territories.

A message was read at the conference from the King, acknowledging the conference’s message of loyalty and expressing His Majesty’s best wishes for success in dealing with common problems affecting the Empire. ,Mr James Dillon, deputy-leader of the Cosgrave Party in the Eire Parliament, in a broadcast address to-night, said an endeavour was' being mad: in Ireland to-day to forget appeals to passion and prejudice and to substitute for them political argument addressed to the people’s reason rather than their emotions. Ireland, he said,

had happily settled her outstanding differences with Britain, but there remained the problem of a United Ireland which, if brought about, would be a great force for liberty and decency in the world. He added that thei’e were no class distinctions in Ireland, and the first charge on the national income was a minimum livelihood for every citizen. Machinery to give effect to this' ideal was at present in the making. NEW ZEALAND TRADE. SYDNEY, September 6. At the Empire Relations Conference, when New Zealand trade generally, was under discussion, a question was asked whether New Zealand would become a rival of Australia, in the field of secondary industries. The reply was that it was felt New Zealand’s destiny was bound up with primary industries. She would do better as a primary producing country, provided fresh markets could be found. This was essential in view of the fact that the British market was contracting. Delegates stated that attempts had been made to increase the Dominion’s trade in primary products in the East, but without the success hoped for, therefore New Zealand was most anxious to strengthen her trade ties with One delegate then asked whether New Zealand was prepared to do anything to remove the hindrances to trade between the two countries. The answer* was that New Zealand would be glad to relax trade restrictions, and generally do all it could m this direction. In reply to a further question, it was stated that there had been flight of capital from New Zealand, but that the Labour Government could not be held responsible. It was due largely to the attractive investment market for money in Australia.

MANDATES AND MAORIS. The general opinion regarding New Guinea was that the question of handing back the mandate would depend largely on the action that other mandatories would take in returning their mandates to appease Germany. Replies to questions about New Zealand’s attitude towards her Samoan mandate, indicated that New Zealand did not desire to hand hack Samoa to Fascist Germany. “Delegates made it clear, when speaking about New Zealand, that the traditional attitude in the Dominion towards Britain was undergoing a change. There was now a realisation that New Zealand’s interests were not always identical with those of Britain. This was no indication, however, that there was any desire on the part of •the Dominion to weaken in any way the strong Empire ties. It rather indicated that New Zealand was growing up, and had adopted’ the privilege of a grown-up of thinking more independently. Delegates from Britain, and the other Dominions, asked several questions about the status of the Maoris. It was made clear to them there was no racial problem. The Maoris enjoyed a political and social status equal to that of Europeans. . On the White Australia policy, J there was general agreement that the policy was based on economic and not on racial or biological prejudices. It was essentially a national and not a. .political policy.

CANADIAN POLICY. On behalf of Canada, it was stated there were definite racial problems as between the people of purely British stock and the French Canadians. Only 50 per cent. of. the population of Canada was of-British descent, and the tendency was for that population to decline..

From the economic point of view, ■the delegates were told frankly that Canada was not so dependent upon Britain as were some other Dominions. Trade with the United States was actually more important to Canada than her trade with Britain.

Upon the question of Canada’s attitude in the event of war, it was stated that it would be difficult to persuade the French Canadians to take part in any conflict against a Catholic enemy country, or to endorse any alliance with Russia. Nevertheless, Canada was developing an Air Force as a strong measure of defence.

The decision that the Conference should be held in camera, was closely followed. At the end of the sessions, Dr. G. V. Portus acted as conference spokesman.