IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 11326, 2 October 1930, Page 6

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

PRELIMINARY MEETING. PRIME MINISTERS AT DOWNING STREET. MR. SCULL IN KEPT BUSY WITH INQUIRIES. ‘ KING GIVES AUDIENCE TO AIR. FORBES*. U.P.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 30. Mr. Ramsay MacDonald presided at the,Prime Ministers’ conference, which lasted for 90 minutes, at Downing Street, at which they made arrangements. for the procedure for tho forthcoming discussions at the Imperial Conference. Air. MacDonald's welcome and then 15-minute speeches covering broad outlines by the Prime Alinisters will he the programme for the opening session of the conference in a room at the Foreign Office at 10 o’clock to-morrow morningIt is understood that-Air. Scull in will speak on general lines, dealing particularly with constitutional questions and inter-imperial trade. He will not approach details of the economic issues till the conference takes them lip on Thursday. He hopes to give a. reasoned statement of Australia’s position, with suggestions for increasing the volume of business. Ho *\s still devoting most of bis time to interviewing privately those who are able to give first-hand opinions on Australian finances from their own London experience. There is already newspaper kiteflying cm the subject of having an Australian as the next GovernorGeneral. The assumption is that Air Scull in will raise the question of tho Dominions’ right to tender advice to His Majesty on this and other matters. Speculators overlook the fact that discussions on the Governorship was held in abeyance till Air- Scullin came to Loudon and saw the King, which is unlikely to be long delayed. His Majesty, though he only arrived from Scotland in the morning, gave audience to Hon. G. W. Forbes. General Hertzog (South Africa), and Sir Richard Squires (Newfoundland) to-day. The Australian Press Association understands that Air. Scullin is likely to be given an audience before Friday, when Their Alajesties will give a dinner to the Prime .Aiinisters at the Palrme.

KING AND QUEEN RETURN TO LONDON. (British Wirelftd*.! RUGBY, Sept. SO. The King and Queen arrived at Euston station at 8 o’clock this morning from Balmoral, and proceeded by motor to Buckingham Palace. During the present week Their Alajesties will receive a number oi official visitors, and will leave on Saturday for Sandringham. The Maharajah of Bikaner arrived at London fiom Geneva yesterday for the Imperial Conference, where he is representing India. Later His Highness will take part in the round-table conference on the Indian constitution.

INTER-IMPERIAL TRADE. Tlie economic section of tlio Imperial Conference has agreed to receive a deputation from the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire to discuss the resolutions on :nter-lmperia! trade passed by the federation in their congress last May. It was represented at the congress that hi view of the extreme importance of the subject at present the views of the congress should be submitted direct to the conference by a deputation, r departure from the previous practice. As a result of a consultation between the United Kingdom and Dominion govern men ts the request has been acceded to.

This evening the Prime Ministers were the guests of the Government at Lancaster House, where later a reception, at which 1000 people were present, was held.

CANADA WANTS TRADE AND ECONOMICS DISCUSSED

The Canadian Prime Minister, the Hon. TL B. Bennett, in an interview this evening, said it was not so much matters related to the constitutional position that different parts of the Empire had to consider to-day. Tradearid economics were all-important, and it was through them that an approach to closer relations had to be made. He said he brought a message of warm goodwill from Canadians to tho people of the British Isles, ancl expressed confidence that the important questions before the conference would be. dealt with to the common advantage of all parts of the Empire.

SOCIAL FUNCTIONS OPEN GOVERNMENT’S DINNER TO GUESTS*. (U.P.A. by Elec; Tel. Copyright) ' • LONDON, Oct. 1. Mr. Bennett arrived, from Canada last night bind joined his fellow Premiers at the Government’s dinner to the’ Imperial Conference ’ delegates at Lancaster House. The . company numbered 80. Foreign wines and other products v ore used- ’The Empire Marketing Board’s dinner will use entirely Empire . products.. , Mr. Scullin sat between Mr. Ramsay MacDonald and Mr. J\ H. Thomas, and later had talks with Mr. Neville' Chamberlain, Mr. L. S. Amery, . Sir Basil Blackett, . and others., ~.. , In the meanwhile Miss Lshbel MacDonald gave a dinner to. the conference. womenfolk at Downing Street, .those, present . including Mrs Scullin, Lady Garran, and Mrs. Forbes, Mrs. Thomas also gave- a dinner to others at 'Admiralty'House, the guests including Mrs.; Moloney, wile of . the Hon. . V- M010ney,..... Federal Minister 'of‘Markets, • '■ - V All’ the. Dominions are strongly' represented. There were thousands lof guests at Lancaster House 'after the dinner. ' A'-A' 7 / ,

BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS

EUROPE

PARISIAN PRESS ANXIOUS,

(U.P.A. by Elec. Tel. Copvright) PARIS, Sept. 30,

Expressing anxiety regarding Britain’s attitude towards Europe as a result of the Imperial Conference, J.e Temps says efforts to secure closer Imperial economic collaboration suggest an increasing deflection of Britain from a European role, but admits that an Imperial collaboration of capital is of importance for the moral greatness and material prosperity of the Empire.

SEPARATE AUDIENCES' WITH

HIS MAJESTY

(U.P.A. by Bier. Tei. Copyright.) (Received Oct. 1, 7.10. p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 30. His Majesty gave an audience at Buckingham Palace separately to General Hertzog, the Hon. G. W. Forbes, and Sir Richard Squires, each remaining half an hour.