PREMIERS’ CONFERENCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 May 1944, Page 5

PREMIERS’ CONFERENCE

SECRETARIAT PLAN SHELVED. LONDON, May 15. The Australian Associated __ Press says it understands that the Empire Prime. Ministers- to-day decided to consult their Governments concerning Mr. Curtin's plan for a permanent Empire secretariat. The conference is thus likely to end to-morrow without deciding on any important alterations to the present machinery of in-ter-imperial consultations. Mr. Curtin’s proposals, which gave rise io a long and earnest exchange of views, in which. Mr. Mackenzie King emphatically restated his. objections to the formation of a “national bloc,” will at least ensure that the post-war interchange of information and collaboration on foreign policy will, be carried out in the Empire as effectively as during the war. All the Prime Ministers agreed that it had been vastly better than before the war. It is generally accepted that the last has not been heard ol' Mr. Curtin's suggestion for a standing Empire authority, and it is very likely that future meetings of Prime Ministers will be held in Dominion capitals. A. communique setting forth the results achieved'during the conference will probably be released simultaneously in all the Dominions on Thursday. FINAL MEETING HELD. LONDON, May 16. The last meeting of the Dominion Prime Ministers was held to-day. The Ministers will be slaying in Britain for some time yet. They will take part in general discussions and see more of Britain than has been possible during the busy days of the conference.