The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1933. IMPORTANT CONFERENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 April 1933, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1933. IMPORTANT CONFERENCE.

In the course of a few days there will be another important conference among the ne.ad.-i of the great iffiu era, wnea tne gathering takes place at Vnati-ungton. Tne uo.v President of the United States, Air Roosevelt, has sent out a number of invitations and the whole of them have been accepted, Tne attendance of Air Ramsay AlacDouald, the British Prime Alinister, will be a notable one and will greatly enhance the value of the conference. ,TJie primary intention of discussing economic questions has broadened into a wish, on Air Roosevelt’s part, to talk of all. things related to world affairs as they now demand very serious heed. This development gives tb,3 projected meeting a character vastly different from the first intention. Then there were rigid restrictions applicable to a business conference between creditor ancl debtor, and emphatic insistence by the former on the limits and direction of the negotiations. A tone altogether new is in Mr Roosevelt’s statement. The earlier wish to dictate terms ■ .and conditions is scarcely observable. He and Mr MacDonald will meet less formally, with a minimum of official hampering, and talk as friends about the whole situation. Details of policy must be in their minds, and it its possible that a shared basis' of full agreement may be a little difficult to discover, yet it is evident that the two men able, by virtue of their official status, to contrive a practicable scheme of fully international hearing are eager to engage in unbuttoning t4lk on everything that greatly matters, The hint that wav debts will have a secondary place, and thou bo linked with disarmament, is not- surprising, in view of an expressed marked preference jn Washington for this procedure, but it is a mere shadow of the former condition pf any parley. Air Roosevelt is evidently preparing for the frank talk he is known to desire when he and Air ATacDonald meet, for the forecast of his intentions included obtaining from Congress a pledge of co-operation, in advance, iii efforts to make international agreements affecting war debts and trade. This pledge, if American events of the last five weeks are to be taken as a guide, will;, be forthcoming without serious demur. Congress has manifested a remarkable readiness to acquiesce in the President’s handling of domestic difficulties, and a 3 it evidently realises the necessity to modify traditional views on foreign policy, it is unlikely to handicap him in this wider venture. It may be taken for granted that if lie offers Air AlscDonald a moratorium deferring the June payment of war debt that offer will have Congressional endorsement. So with trade agreements involving tariff adjustments. In the light of recent events Air Roosevelt can confidently expect to meet Air AlacDonald on practically equal terms, being able to speak for his country with almost the advantage possessed- by a Prime Minister of a National Government.