THE EMPIRE POLICY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 930, 31 January 1924, Page 6

THE EMPIRE POLICY.

OUTLINED BY MINISTER. BRITAIN’S SACRED TRUST. By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Received January 30, 11.50 a.m. LONDON, Jan. 29. Mr J. 11. Thomas received the Empire journalists at the Colonial Office, when he outlined at length the Government’s Empire policy, lie referred at the outset to what he termed the nonsense talked about Labour being anti-Empire and the new Government being only restrained from upsetting the existing arrangements because they had not a majority to give them the necessary power. He admitted that the tone had now changed. No Government had received a more encouraging send-off, but there wero still the elements of apprehension and suspicion throughout the Empire. He wished to dispel such ieelings; Labour did have some idea of a New Jerusalem, but it only desired to advance by reasonable and prudent steps. He emphasised that all the Ministers were assisted by a great civil service which Mr Thomas found, as he expected, was composed of able and devoted men who placed the interests of the State above all other interests. He yielded to none in tho desire to promote tho welfare of the Empire and draw closer its ties. ‘‘The Labour Party, he said, “regard it as sacred trust, which we must develop impartially and freely. Nobody is able to say how long we shall remain in office, and 1 am genuinely anxious that when we relenqusn office none n the great Empire will be able to say it is less great as tne result of our work.” In reply to a question. Mr Thomas said that it would bo madness to assume that he would accept all that his predecessor did. It had been decided that the Empire could be developed and unemployment ill Britain be helped by the expenditure of money on Empire development. . , He said the resolutions of the Imperial Conference would be considered by Cabinet. ‘AWe adhere to Mr MacDonald’s statement on the subject.” One of his first difficulties was the Kenya Colony, to which he had given more consideration than to any other. lie said emphatically that their first duty was to the African natives. “Neither European nor Indian interests will divert us from the obligation thereto. The policy enunciated in a White Paper recently issued was most likely to be followed. Reuter.