CLOSE CO-OPERATION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21753, 30 June 1945, Page 5

CLOSE CO-OPERATION

EMPIRE DELEGATIONS INTERNATIONAL TRADE (11 a.m.) OTTAWA, June 29,

Throughout UNCIO there was the closest co-operation between the British Commonwealth delegates, said the Dominions Secretary, Lord Cranborne, at a press conference. In several instances, as a result of interCommonwealth discussions, the United Kingdom delegation had modified its view. «

Lord Cranborne suggested that there should be maximum collaboration between the members of the British Commonwealth, but any attempt at centralised authority would be a mistake. The San Francisco ana London talks which preceded them were an excellent example of the way the Commonwealth should work.

“We are old, experienced, wise and tolerant and have interests all over the world such as no other country has. We can do much to mould the world of the future,” he said. “It’s up to us to see that we don't fail.”

He added that he did not expect a full-scale-;‘lmperial conference until after the war, but did not see any reason why another meeting of Prime Ministers, such as occurred in London in 1944, should not be held sooner. Britain was genuinely keen about multilateral trade, but naturally wanted to use the Imperial preference system insofar as it worked for the benefit of all members of the Commonwealth. Any reduction in United States tariff would go a long way towards speeding up the development d¥ international trade.