EMPIRE PARTNERS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1188, 10 December 1924, Page 6

EMPIRE PARTNERS

PRIME MINISTER’S PROPOSAL. CONFERENCES IN DOMINIONS. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Dec. 8. The Prime Minister made an interesting statement to-day concerning the project discussed by the Secretary of Stato for tho Colonies in regard to conferences being held in the Dominions. Mr Massey snid: “I agree almoet in its entirety with tlie opinion expressed by Mr Amery that when the representative statesmen of tho Empire can come together in a round-the-tublo conference, tlioy have no difficulty in arriving at an agreement, and the oftener they can come together the better for all concerned. As to meeting occasionally in tho overseas centres, I have advocated this on a number of occasions, and I am confident it would be a most advantageous arrangement. London has many advantages which I am prepared to admit, but it is just as important that British statesmen should see and learn something about the possibilities of tho Dominions as that tlie representatives of what are sometimes called the British possessions overseas should keep in touch with the heart of tlie Empire itself, if the conference met occasionally, say in Canada (east or west), in Australia, or New Zealand, or South Africa, it would he possible to have yearly meetings with very much less waste of time and energy than is the case at present, and we should get to understand each other very much better. Tho Empire is kept together by loyalty to the Sovereign, by the spirit of patriotism which obtains in every British community, also by the unwritten partnership which exists as between the different countries, and which leads their cilizoils to understand that they are partners in that company of nations which has done moro for humanity as a whole than any other nation or Empire which the world has ever seen. I\hen I use the term 'partnership’ 1 am thinking of such questions as defence in its various forms, tho making of treaties with foreign nations, and international conferences, like that of Washington, for example, or any other subject which may be considered of sufficient national importance. There should bo a distinct and definite understanding about such business, and trouble such as that which took place over Lausanne would thereby be avoided. If the Secretary of State for tlie Colonies can find time to visit the Dominions, well and good. He will get a hearty welcome wherever ho goes. Hut better still would it be to have periodical conferences in the different colonies in the way I have suggested.”