AFFAIR OF THE EMPIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18887, 9 December 1924, Page 9

AFFAIR OF THE EMPIRE.

NEW BRITISH POLICY.

VIEWS OF THE DOMINIONS.

PREFERENCE TO BE RESTORED.

By Telegraph —Press Association—Copyright. (Received 5.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. LONDON. Dec. 7. The Parliamentary correspondent of the Daily Express says that 'the 'prominence given to Empire affairs will be a distinctive feature of the King's Speech. It will, he says, announce a. policy of constant consultations with the Dominions through the High Commissioners. The Speech will also state that Britain will not pass judgment on the Geneva peaco protocol until the Dominions' views have been ascertained.

Preference on the lines, agreed to at the Imperial Conference of 1923 will, says the correspondent, be restored. It is expected that, the Budget will embody it. The Dominions will he invited to . . *> make suggestions regarding preference matters from time to time.

CONFERENCES OVERSEAS MR. MASSfc. Y'S ADVOCACY. PROMOTION OF UNDERSTANDING. [r.Y TELEGRAPH. — OWN COP-JIESPONDTA'T. ] WELLINGTON. Monday. The Prime Minister made a statement to-day concerning the project discussed by the Secretary of State for . the Colonies in regard to conferences being held in the Dominions. Mr. Massey said: —

" I agree almost in its entirety with the opinion expressed by Colonel Amery. When the representative statesmen of

the Empire can come together in a round-the-table conference they have no difficulty in arriving at an agreement, and the oftener they can come together the bettor for all concerned. As to meeting

occasionally in the 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 dvantages which I am pre-

pared to a<!rnit, but it is just as important that British statesmen should .see and learn something about the possibilities of the Dominions as that the representatives of what arc sometimes called the British possessions overseas should

keep in touch with the heart of the

Empire itself. If the conference met. occasion.;), say, in Canada, east or west, in Australia, or New Zealand or South Africa., it, would be possible to have yearly meetings with very much lejss ■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, and also by the unwritten part-

nership which exists as between the dif-

ferent countries, and which leads their citizens to understand that they are part-

ners in that company of nations which has done more for humanity as a. whole than any other nation or Empire .the world has ever seen. ■

" When I use tire tern 4 partnership' I am thinking of such questions as defence in its various forms, the 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 be a I distinct and definite understanding about

such business, and trouble such as that, which took place over Lausanne would jbe avoided. If the Secretary of State

j for the Colonies can find time to ' visit i the Dominions well and good. He will get a hearty . welcome why re er be goes, but better still would it be to have periodical conferences in . the different ccntries in the way I have suggested."