Co-operation Dominant Note

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 97, 27 April 1939, Page 6

Co-operation Dominant Note

Pacific Defence Conference Successful PRIME MINISTER SATISFIED Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. The Pacific Defence Conference held its final meeting at 3 p.m. to-day and approved of its report which will now be presented to the Governments of the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand for their consideration. It was agreed to recommend to the three Governments that it was desirable that similar conferences be arranged periodically in the south and west Pacific area. A farewell address was delivered by the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. AI. J. Savage, and replied to by Sir Harry Batterboe, British High Commissioner, on behalf of the United Kingdom delegation, aDd Vice-Admiral Sir Ragnar Colvin ou behalf of the Australian delegation. Air. Savage then declared the conference closed. “The proceedings of the conference were from the very nature of its agenda confidential and cannot bo divulged,” said Air. Savage. “Their conclusions arc in the nature of recommendations to the Governments concerned and it follows therefore that nothing can in any case be said about them until they have been considered by tne Governments; but this can be said at once, the recommendations are regarded as entirely satisfactory to the New Zealand delegation and there is reason to believe to the other two delegations also. Not only are the recommendations in the opinion of the New Zealand delegation valuable in themselves, but equally valuable is the opportunity that has been afforded for a full and frank interchange of views and the spirit of mutual goodwill and understanding engendered by the discussions. “The dominating note of all the concluding speeches was the determination of the three countries to co-operate in all defence measures to the utmost of their power and stand together in support of the principles on which the British Commonwealth of Nations was founded. It is interesting to observe that the report of the conference ia dated Anzac Day.” LAND DEFENCE FOR DOMINION WELLINGTON, Last Might. The Prime Alinister announced today that arrangements had been made with the consent of his Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom for Alajor-Gcueral P. J. Alackesy, C. 8., D. 8.0., AI.C., who has been acting as one of the British delegates at the Defence Conference, to remain in Mew Zealand for a few weeks for the purpose of reporting on the land defence forces of this Dominion. “ Alajor-Gencral Alackesy,” said Air. Savage, “is a distinguished officer with wide experience in war and in peace. He at present holds the command of a Territorial Division in Great Britain. The fact that he was selected as the Army representative on the British delegation to the Defence Conference is in itself sufficient indication of his oustanding competence for the task which he has now, with the consent of the British Government, been good enough to assume, and the Dominion is, I think, exceedingly fortunate in being able te obtain his services.”