DOMINION PREMIERS

Grey River Argus, 11 May 1944, Page 5

DOMINION PREMIERS

AT WAR CABINET Egjpire Defence Problems [Aus. & N.Z. Press Assn.) (Rec. 11.25.) LONDON, May 9. Meetings of .the Dominions’ Conference were held at No. 10 Downing Street on Thursday morning and evening, Mr. Churchill and the Dominion Prime Ministers continued an examination of the Empire’s postwar defence problems, including world security, prevention of aggression, and preservation of peace. The Dominion Prime Ministers attended a meeting of the War Cabinet on Tuesday, thus being enabled to hear the latest information about the progress of the 1 war in all theatres, and take a share in the responsibility for planning and conducting day-to-day operations. LONDON, May 9. The Australian-New Zealand plan for a regional defence zone comprising the South-west Pacific may be adopted as a pattern for an Em-pire-wide system of post-war security, as the result of to-aay’s discussions at the Dominion Prime Ministers’ Conference which' is at present giving attention to military aspects of Mr. Eden’s political plans for maintaining peace. It- is believed that Mr. Curtin emphasised Australia was anxious immediately to enter into a British Commonwealth or international agreement for policing the islands north of Australia. The fate of Mr. Curtin’s plan for an Empire Secretariat, which is the most widely publicised of all subjects before the conference, is likely to be settled in the next day or two when the Prime Ministers will proceed from a study of defence-co-operation within the Empire to a reconstitution of machinery pf consultation. The remaining sessions are likely to be taken up with discussions on migration, which will be linked with post-war employment plans, communications which will include administration and Imperial communications, which will include civil aviation and shipping. Mr. Curtin has already prepared a clear-cut colonial policy based on the doctrine of trusteeship, under which he proposes establishing a South Seas regional commission, representing Australia, New Zealand, Britain, America, and possibly the French Committee of Liberation. The economic policy in relation to countries outside the Empire has been the subject of some of the longest discussions between the Prime Ministers, who again called in the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sir J. Anderson) at the beginning o f to-day’s sitting. The conference is expected to conclude on May 15.

Mr. Curtin announced that he today formally invited Mr. Churchill to Australia to which Mr. Churchill replied: “I have long been looking forward to visiting Australia, and I hope to be able to do so, but everything must wait on events.” 1 Mr. Curtin to-day called on the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester at their London home, and (discussed plans for taking up residence at Canberra. Mr. Curtin said afterwards that the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester will probably leave for Australia towards the end of the year. Both were obviously Looking forward to their stay in Australia. A definite impression was made by Mr. Fraser when the Prime Ministers’ conference discussed Commonwealth trade and economic and monetary policy. He had facts and figures at his finger tips, which particularly impressed General Smuts.

Mr Fraser Enijeriainedj BY ROUND TABLE CLUB. LONDON, May 9. Last night, Mr. Fraser, acconis panied by Mr. Jordan visited the Royal Naval College at Greenwich, talking to many New Zealanders in the Fleet Air Arm. A suggestion was made that New Zealand should have its own Fleet Air Arm squadron to which Mr. Fraser agreed. To-day Mr. Fraser was made a Knight of the Round Table when he attended a luncheon given by the Knights of the Round Table Club which was formed in 1720 and of which Mr. Jordan was made an honorary vice-president before the war. The Danish Minister and Christmas Moller, leader of the Free Danes, were also made Knights with Mr. Fraser. Mr. Fraser’s health was proposed by the Archbishop of Canterbury (Dr. Temple) who said: “The record of New Zealand as a partner in our Commonwealth of Nations is one of which the whole Commonwealth of Nations is proud. It was never prouder than in these la'st days and that record has received added glory from the splendid achievements of the New Zealand troops fighting especially in North Africa: At the time when New Zealanders were performing prodigies of endurance and valour with other troops of the Empire, New Zealand was under threat of possible invasion from the Japanese ~and we have all the more reason to be grateful for the comradeship which we enjoyed with New Zealanders that their troops remained to see the campaign through to the end, even though the threat to New Zealand itself still existed.” He added that it was one of the defects of his education that he had never been to New Zealand to which Mr. Fraser interjected: “That may be put right!” The Archbishop paid a tribute to Mr. Fraser as being “one of that large number of Scots who have gone forward to the conquest of the world — of which we are well acquainted in England.” (Laughter). Mr. Fraser, replying, referred to the Maoris as being “one of the finest peoples on earth, their chivalry being unsurpassed by any people, even by King/ Arthur.” Mr. Fraser paid a tribute to the Danes who had contributed substantially to the success of New Zealand dairy farming. “We are very glad,” he added, ■ “that the. Free Danish movement is showing such signs of vitality, endurance and determination.”

There were some amusing exchanges as to the relative merits of New Zealand and Danish butter, one in particular being when the Danish Minister mischievously suggested that New Zealand should not place too much reliance on the word “Empire.” instanc’ng a case before the war when an English woman who could 1 not find Danish butter to buy, on being offered .Empire butter said: "If you have not got Danish butter. I do not want any of that foreign stuff.” (Laughter). Mr. Fraser said. “Nothing -would nlease New Zealand more than to know that Denmark is once again free. There hr.s never been enmityin our competition. There has'been co-operative competition.” Mr. Jordan in a tribute to the resistance of the Free Danes emphasised the value of sabotage in Eurone bv; stating that during a recent raid the Germans dropped 153 incendiaries around his house, of which over onethird failed to ignite—an ’ illustration of useful sabotage.