IMPERIAL CONFERENCE,

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18888, 22 December 1924, Page 11

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE,

EARLY SUMMONS LIKELY

SUBJECTS FOR DISCUSSION.

THE GENEVA PROTOCOL.

DOMINIONS' VIEW SOUGHT.

EMPIRE RELATIONSHIPS.

By Teleinapn—Press Association—Copyright. (Received 8.35 p.m.) A. and N.Z.—Eeuter. LONDON. Dec. 20. The diplomatic correspondent of the Observer says it is confidently expected that au invitation to the special Imperial Conference will be cabled from London to the Dominions this week-end. 'The New Zealand and Australian Press Association understands that the purpose of the conference is to discuss the Geneva disarmament protocol. Other advices state that the insistence by a section n.f the French press that Britain's action in ruling that the Irish treaty is outside the' province of the League betokens a change in the Dominions' status at League meetings, caused many political inquiries. It can be stated . authoritatively, however, that no change is involved, though it is desired 4 that the Empire delegation should, if possible, first of all agree on a major issue such i as the Geneva jirotocol. This and other subjects will be included in matters to , be discussed at an early Imperial Conference.

I February Meeting Mentioned. The Central News Agency states the conference will be held in London in February, but this has yet to be confinned. It is admitted, however, that the Foreign Office, in moving for the postponement of the protocol at Geneva, was actuated wholly by a desire for full consultation with the Dominion:! which, it was felt, could best be achieved by a round-table conference. Most of the other topics at the forthcoming conference concern the Colonial Office. It is believed the Cabinet will be ready to take up anew the question of relationships with the Dominions; in fact, it is hinted that any reasonable plan mutually agreed upon between the Dominions within the limits of public policy will not be rejected by Britain, even to the extent of resident Ministers forming a kind of Imperial Cabinet.

Hands Off Domestic Affairs. Meanwhile, on such difficulties as those existing in Egypt, the Dominions will be promptly informed. The maxim of the Foreign Office is that the League must not interfere in the Empire's internal affairs. These must come before the Empire authorities first and not before the League. A further message states that the New Zealand anci Australian Press Association understands that two Empire Conferences of supreme importance are pending.

The first will be the Economic Standing Conference, of which the membership includes Dominion High Commissioners or other oifiifcial representatives of the. Dominions, unless the Dominions prefer to send Ministers. The purpose of the Economic Conference is consultation 'as

to the application of the preference resolutions at the-fast Imperial Conference; also, the allocation of the £1,000,0)0 trade grant.

Secondly, the Imperial Government contemplates calling a conference of Empire Prime Ministers about March for the purpose of arriving at an agreement on the Geneva protocol. The conference will be .confined to one subject, and limited to Prime Ministers. The proposal awaits Cabinet ratification, which is expected next week, upon which Mr. Baldwin will probably telegraph invitations to the Prime Ministers of the Dominions. Unanimity Essential., The Daily Telegraph, in commending the Government's decision to invite the Empire's Prime Ministers to a conference in London to discuss the Geneva protocol, says: "It would not do for Great Britain to accept the protocol and the Dominions v/ithhold assent. Britain speaks for the Dominions in the Council of the League of Nations, but in the Assembly the Dominions will speak for themselves. It is the Council which is supremely important when questions of peace and war arise, wherewith the protocol is primarily concerned. "We hesitate even to contemplate the possibility of Britain speaking for the Empire in the Council, and then one of the Dominions repudiating liability and committal. Yet that is what might happen if Britain ratified the protocol without the Dominions' cordial concurrence."