THE EMPIRE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 9 August 1924, Page 5

THE EMPIRE

FOREIGN POLICY. COMING CONFERENCE. CANADIAN DELEGATES. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT, Received Aug. 9, 10.5 a.m. OTTAWA, Aug. 7. The Government tu-night advised the Colonial Secretary (Mr Thomas) that Canada stands ready to appoint delegates to the conference at London next fall to find a basis for future discussions on the foreign policy of the Empire. The Premier (Mr Mackenzie King) said that if the conference is held Senator Dandurand (Government leader in the Senate) and the Minister for Defence (Mr MacDonald) will probably represent Canada. Both will be in Europe in September to attend the League of Nations Council. 1

In answering a question as to whether he favoured sending the leader of the Opposition to the Empire Conference, Mr King stated that Canada reserved the right to appoint its delegates. The conference under discussion was a preliminary, not demanding the attendance of Government leaders. His general attitude to the question was that since the Government must be responsible for the policy adopted, and the leader of the 1 Opposition must perforce reserve the right to criticise such policy, there would be no useful purpose served by the attendance of the leaders of the Opposition at the formal Empire Conference. Mr King said that in a communication Britain had sent the Dominions it was not thought advisable to revive the idea of a constitutional conference or call a special meeting of the Imperial Conference. The purpose expressed was solely to consider the difficulties met with in consultations and negotiations on questions of foreign policy and presenting a report as a basis for further discussion.—Reuter.