IMPERIAL CONGRESS

Gisborne Times, Volume LIX, Issue 9573, 26 July 1923, Page 5

IMPERIAL CONGRESS

COMMONWEALTII POLICY. PREMIER’S COMMENT ON LLOYD GEORGE KEvJJJLS. FEDERAL MINISTER IN BRITAIN URGED. AUSTRIA LI A X DEFENCE PR OBLEM NOT YET SOLVED. (United Press Association—Cpi/yficht) MELBOURNE. July 25. In the House of Representatives, Mr Bruce, the Prime Minister, outlined the agenda paper 'for the Imperial'Conference. He explained the .Ministry’s attitude towards the questions, especially emphasising the' necessity lor giving the Dominions a, voice in foreign affairs. Apropos oi the latter, Air Bruce mentioned that tile action of Air Lloyd George, in bringing the Empire to the brink‘of war with Turkey, was most unfortunate.

fiie Premier was taunted by Opposition members with being a member of Air Hughes’ Ministry, which supported Air Lloyd George’s action. ♦ Air Bruce replied that he made no apology for Great Britain wh<-:i it decided to take action. There- was no alternative but to assist by prompt action. T lie* Commonwealth probably, prevented war. Air Bruce declared that two outstanding questions at the imperial Conference" w ould be the foreign policy and defence. The imperial Government iiad forwarded the fullestinformation on foreign affairs, but sue]) liiiormatioi) was alwavs received concurrently with public announcement. ft always came whet: too lato to influence decisions. Urging the need for closer consultation Air Brute said he behoved some good would result from the appointment of a .Minister in Britain for a short period, provided he retained Ministerial status. He also favored the creation of a small Australian secretariat within the British Foreign Office to assist in informing public- opinion in Australa. Another a snoot- was whether separate Dominions were to be entitled to conclude separate treaties on their own account. Dealing with defence, Mr Bruce said that neither the League of Nations nor the Washington Conteience had solved the defence problems iV-r Australia. The re was room i; r a conference of Pacific nations to discuss

the armament question. Defence; was an impossible task for Australia by horse!;. Only by different parts of the Empire acting together could a proper scheme of Empire defence 1 -.- secured. He would tell the com fere nee that Australia was prepared to do her •part in such a scheme. The establishment of the Singapore base was a condition precedent to the establishment of any large fleet there. Therefore the proposal must commend itself to the people of Australia. Lt showed that Britain recognised the heart of the Empire was not now in tiie North Sea. but had shifted to the Pacific. The proposal was for the carrying out oi what had for long been an Australian ideal. Mr Bruce next dealt with the importance of the development of airship and wiieless services. In all these matters he reiterated that he would not commit Australia to one penny expanses til! Parliament had a full opportunity of discussing the decisions of the Conference.

TRADE DE VE LOPATENT WITHIN 'EMPIRECDAEMON FOREIGN POLICY URGED. Turning to the Economic Conference. Air Bruce declared that the most important subjects for discussion were overseas settlement- and trade development.. Bound up with the land settlement question was the problem of finding markets for Empire products. Unless we could find markets for our surplus products itwas useless to go on with the migration schemes. There was no reason why we should nut enter into interEmpire trade arrangements which, while not shutting the door to the other nations, would help Britain and tilt- Empire over a period when the markets or the whole world were unstable. The only way to meet rue situation was reciprocity within the Empire, and lie proposed to urge ti is with all his power. Upon Australia was thrown the obligation of showing the need for preierence. If Australia could not find markets in Britain, she must inevitably find thc-ni somewhere else. That meant some other nation’s goods would be substituted

for those of Britain. That- was the last thing the Ministry desired, because it, would be most serious :o Britain. In regard to preference.’ ho declared that under it Empire trade within the Empire would increase the purchasing power of the I'oniinioiis from Britain. *lf a basis regarding the Empire foreign policy were nut readied. it would mean disintegration of the Empire. The result of that would be disastrous. Kc believed the Ministry was doing the best, in the interests of the Commonwealth. They held that Australia should defend herself, and that within the Empire should he a common policy for the whole Empire. The whole question should he approached from a high Australian standpoint. The debate was adjourned.—U.P.A. (Received Julv 25. 7.3-3 p.m.) MELBOURNE. July 25. AD Bruce declared that if Australia was to take part in Britain's wars she should have a stronger voice in the. Empire policy. She was not now being consulted as she should he on many questions of groat importance. As regards defence. .Australia was oppi sod to a central Empire force with a monetary connibution. >he would accept- her share m a Dominion* Naval Union ior defence in the Pacific —U.P.A.