LABOR CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 3 October 1929, Page 5

LABOR CONFERENCE

f, MR HENDERSON’S SPEECH. X.V ■ (British Official Wireless). k (Received this day at 11 a.m.) ! RUGBY, October 2. .11° his speech on foreign affairs at the Labour Conference at Brighton to-day, Mr A. Henderson (Foreign Secretary), said: “The British Government have no intention of reconsidering, as . has been suggested, the British ■ tenure of the mandate for Palestine. There is no question of ■altering the position in regard .to a \ mandate on the policy laid down by "Y\ the Balfour declaration in 1917 in (favour of creating Palestine as a f national home for Jews. The policy is still to protect the civil and religious rights of all tho' inhabitants, irrespective of race or religion, When the .report of the Commission of Inquiry irito the recent disorders ' was received > the Government' would consider the means, within the terms of the mandate, by which /• the future policy in Palestine would be directed. ■ '

Referring to Russia Mr Henderson said I am very happy to be able to report, /that as a result of negotiations an agreement has been reached on the procedure that will-be. .put into operation immediately on the exchange; of embassadors between the 1 two countries. ' -' 'When the House of Commons meets it will be the business of the Gov-, eminent to make a report on! the conversations that have taken place Iwith. M. Dogalevisky, and I will be quite prepared to await the decision of the House. We have taken a, most ' important step and J believe immediately ambassadors have been exchanged and the full machinery has been put into operation, there , will be such an agreement as will place our relationship in a satisfactory position-and will/bring (lie two countries together as they have not been, for many (years. • . Reviewing the results achieved at the recent Hague Conference,’ Mr Henderson, . after, a passing , reference to the financial aspects of , the .negotiations;l, said he. made it known in the early 'stage of the negotiations .that; British public opinion has insisted on a : withdrawal of -,the, British troops , ,from the Rhineland. French‘public opinion differed somewhat frojn. British public opinion on this matter, and M. Briand’s, pqi;t was perhaps more difficult than his own. M. Briand and Dr Stresemann worked’ togjqther so often that lie never doubted an agreement ' would be' reached. The result, lie was happy to say, was a combined agreement on ia political issue! Immediately lie . had put his’ hand to the Protocol and & signed it, he despatched representatives of the War Office to London to see the? Minister, of War .and day Kb~ received ’ a telejgram in \Vhich instructions had been-given-for a movei to he made immediately. The whole of the British evacuation would be completed by December 14th. The Belgians hoped to have their troops moved by the middle of December nncl the (French hoped to have evacuated' their zone completely during •December. Several members of the Borough Council visited Lake Eanieri yesterday aftem'oon and made an inspection of the work in prqgress in connection with the renewal, of the water supply pipe line.’ The new race is being laid down on an altered course which is improving the grade of the fall. It has entailed some heavy' cutting in places, but it is not nearly as deep as the former . The work is progressing satisfactorily .under Foreman Cliesterman, though any wet wpatlier puts a stop to the work of cementing in the new pipes. The latter appear to be very suitable for the purpose they are being used for.

LONDON, October 2. At Brighton Labour Conference, Mr Henderson said insistent advocates of disarmament were women, who declared that the fate of the children was in the hands of the present Government. Jf disarmament were not achieved during its tenure, civilization would not have been saved. Mr Henderson said what he really hoped to achieve was to get down to the standard of a police force 1