FOREIGN POLICY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 306, 29 November 1927, Page 6

FOREIGN POLICY.

ADDRESS TO MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT. PRIVATE SESSION YESTERDAY. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Nov. 28. Just after the House of Representatives met this afternoon the Prime Minister intimated that he would Ime to have the opinion of members as to whether they were prepared to go into secret or private session for the purpose of hearing an address from AL Amery. Secretary for Dominions, on foreign topics and policy. the uiiference between a secret and a private session might be highly technical, but there was a difference. The idea of such a session was that many members had expressed the desire to hoar an address from Mr Amery on foreign topics and policy. Mr Amery had delivered a similar address to the Oommonwealth- Parliament and members had gladly availed themselves of the opportunity to hear him. It was not possible to make any other arrangement as Mr Amery had engagements wliich would keep him busy tor the remainder of his stay in Wellington and he would be Jeavmg for the South to-morrow. If members would like to hear Mr Amery for, say, 1* hours, with questions for another half-hour, that could be done, but they must dispense with a debate. Whichever course the House chose to adopt, the proceedings would be equally private and confidential. . The Leader of the Opposition asked if strangers, would be excluded, and tho Prime Minister replied in tlie affirmative. _ Mr Holland then asked if the Press would be excluded. The Prime Minister replied that he had left that in the hands of-the Speaker. .. _., In reply to a question from Air Holland as to whether only members of the Press gallery would be admitted, the Prime Minister intimated that only members of the Press gallery would be present. Mr Holland: Then we won’t agree to that. . The Prime Minister said that he thought a private sitting would be sufficient for their purpose, the Proceedings of which would be equally private and confidential. The Speaker then ordered all strangers to withdraw, whereupon members of the Press gallery quitted the chamber. It is understood that a private session' was agreed upon which lasted till 5.30 p.m.