EMPIRE CONFERENCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 November 1939, Page 7

EMPIRE CONFERENCE

DISCUSSIONS IN LONDON

FIRST MEETING HELD

[BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.]

LONDON, November 1.

The first conference between Dominion Ministers, representatives of the Government of India, and the Prime Minister of Great Britain (Mr. Chamberlain) and other members of the British Government was held in London to-day. The Dominion and Indian delegates are attending the conference to co-ordinate the Empire’s war effort. The Australian Minister for Supply and Development (Mr. Casey) made a statement on Australia’s war effort. “Since the outbreak of war, we have more than re-doubled our of forts,” he said “We are anxious to render the greatest assistance possible to the Empire cause.” A review of Canada’s part in the war was broadcast by the Prime Minister of Canada (Mr. MacKenzie King). He referred to the Imperial air training scheme as the Dominion’s most important military development. It might well mean, he said, that the final victory would be shaped on Canadian soil. Canadians would also be sent overseas for front-line action, and the Dominion was now being protected by its own army, navy, and air force Canadian warships on the Atlantic coast were taking part in the convoy system, and not a single ship leaving Canada had been lost. In spite of that, Canada s most important aid might well be her economic contribution. From being the traditional granary of the Empire, Canada might become also the Empire’s arsenal, as her capacity to produce munitions and military supplies was far greater than in 1914, and her

agricultural resources could more easily be mobilised. Canada had not waited for the war to start, but had made industrial preparations before that, and at the cruical moment had been found ready.

COMMON WAR EFFORT.

SPIRIT OF CO-OPERATION

RUGBY, November 2

Consultations between the visiting representatives of the Dominion and Indian Governments and United Kingdom Ministers were continued to-day, when progress was made in the task of unifying and strengthening the war effort exerted by the British Commonwealth of Nations as a whole. Individual conversations took place in the morning, particularly on questions concerning civil aviation and shipping. By this means, special problems affecting one or two only of the Dominions, can, it has been found, be most expeditiously handled. In the afternoon, the strategic needs and problems of the Empire as a whole were under review.

Tlie oversea representatives were entertained at the Mansion House to luncheon by the Lord Mayor of London.

Pronouncements which representatives of the Dominion and Indian Governments made to the Press on their arrival here, gave evidence of the eager desire of these great Dominions to be ranged actively with great Britain in this time of crisis, and it can be said that the Ministers have carried that spirit of loyal and friendly co-operation into the consultations of the past two days.

AIR TRAINING SCHEME

OTTAWA, November 1

The Ottawa correspondent of the Associated Press of America understands that Australia’s participation in the Empire air scheme will be far greater than that of New Zealand and somewhat greater than that ,o Canada, but less than that of Britain.

The Australian Minister for Civil Aviation (Mr. Fairbairn) and the Director of Personnel Services in the Royal Australian Air Force (Wing

Commander Jones) had a brief informal conference to-day with the Canadian Prime Minister (Mr. MacKenzie King),_the Minister for Defence (Mr. Rogers), and Lord Riverdale, the leader of the British mission. The Australians were told that Britain had drawn up a tentative proposal regarding trainees and the costs which Britain hoped Australia

would meet. The delegates have been given offices in the House of Commons.