LOYAL ADDRESS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 May 1937, Page 5

LOYAL ADDRESS

I ROM CONFERENCE THE KINGS REPLY. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 14. After the opening of the plenary session of the Imperial Conference, a loyal message of greeting to Their Majesties was approved, and immediately dispatched to Buckingham Palace. It read as follows : “The Prime Ministers and other representatives of Governments of the British Commonwealth of Nations assembled in conference at London at the first meeting and as their first official act, desire to present their respectful duty to the King, and offer to Your Majesty and Her Majesty their tribute of loyal devotion. They pray Y r our Majesties' reign, which was inaugurated two days ago, may be happy and prosperous, and that under Divine Providence, Your Majesties may be long -spared to strengthen the ties of affection and loyalty, which untie all peoples of the British Commonwealth under the Crown.” The King replied, thanking the delegates for their messages of loyalty and devotion, and saying: “It is most fitting that the solemn ceremony on Wednesday is succeeded immediately by your deliberations, which I follow with the greatest interest, and the confident hope that they will advance the happiness and prosperity of all peoples.” The message was signed “George, R. 1.” in His Majesty’s own hand.

GEN. HERTZOG SATISFIED POSITION RUGBY, May 14. At the Imperial Conference the Prime Minister of South Africa (General Hertzog) said, in connection with South Africa raising constitutional .questions at the conference: “I am glad to say that they no longer cleat with the amendment or change in the constitution of the Commonwealth. I think that the principles on which it is founded will last and will not require further amendment, for voiy many years. What South Africa contemplates js that rve must try to coordinate our policies of action so that we may be as mutually helpful as possible ” Referring to the European situation, General Hertzog said: “T feel that the conference* will be known more bv what we are going to achieve in the interests of peace and the maintenance of peace in the future, than by anything else. South Africa feels and realises more anti mot*?, how closely she is implicated in Europe’s and the world's fate. South Africa heartily appreciates the manner in which the British Government has succeeded in steering through difficult times.”

PRESS COMMENT LONDON, May 15. The “Sunday Times” spvs: The Imperial Conference must clarify the extent to which the Dominions approve of the British commitments to France. These commitments may, conceivably. make drafts on their sentiment. Britain has nr, Halit to draw unnn the immense funded cnnital of Dominion loyalty and auction. extent for ohieets whocb tl>e Dominions feel are in their own interestsIf wo fry to do so it will he a denial of that onenlity of status which the Coronation affirms. Tt mav *-e »me that the Dominions would Imve to snow] more largely on defence of the 8 ,-, Hsh Naw did not exist, hut if the Naw increases their security, our enmn-els af Dip cime time increase the Dominions’ risks, thus p ran Hon 11 v seem ring the a peon Ilfs. 'Co” ep OTien+lv,- theifina n(4a] annrnaoh to this nvnhlem is wrong. Tim right.. approach is the Coronation avenue through common sentiment and devotion to ideals of liberty and peace. The “Sunday Times’ adds : We must so organise the Empire’s physical strength that it may be promptly concentrated at a strategic centre, which would only be possible with a foreign policy in which the Dominions would concur. Let Australia.and South Africa dominate the air for the widest possible radius, thus perfecting their own defence, when and where needed. Let Canada assist in making a common maritime policy as between the Empire and the United States.