IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20721, 14 November 1930, Page 11

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

d PREFERENCES AND QUOTAS, ISSUES STILL NOT SETTLED. LONDON, Nov. 12. For the first time at the present Imperial Conference the heads of the delegations adjourned for afternoon tea today, evidently to allow their frayed nerves to regain composure after the long-drawn t battle over economic issues, especially preferences and quotas. Although the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Philip Snowden, griruly c resists any idea of food taxes there is a feeling that to-morrow lie may recede from a rigid negative to a retention ot tho existing preferences, but it is doubtful if he will retract bis definite statement in the House of Commons that ho would repeal them at tho first opportunity. ,/On (he other hand, iL is suggested that escape may lie found by the relegation of both economic questions to a special Economic Conference to be held in 1931. where is not indicated, though Ottawa is mentioned Mr. Snowden protested lhat the Do- [ minion delegates had secured a flying start with their broadcast speeches laying stress upon the importance of preferences , before Britain had had the timo or opporI tunity to examino these questions. The retort was made that it is strange , in the closing hours of the conference that Britain is still unable to tnakc up her mind to settle the issue iu one way or another. The sitting was adjourned until tomorrow morning, when the heads of the delegations hope to conclude the discussion of the economic questions, including the suggestions for quotas, import boards and bulk purchase, which have been put forward as possible alternatives to preferences. | CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS. IRISH FREE STATE HITCH. LONDON, Nov. 12. Although to-day's communique mentions approval by the Imperial Conference of the reports on constitutional matters, it is understood that an agreement was only reached by expunging all mention of the difficult controversial points. For example, there is reason to believe that the Irish Free State is dissatisfied with going to the Hague, but Britain, under the optional clause reservations, will decline to go and tell Ireland to take the matter to an Empire tribunal. To that it is expected that Ireland will give a negative answer, so how the tangle is to be unravelled nobody knows. END NOW IN SIGHT. PLENARY SESSION CALLED. British Wireless. RUGBY, Nov. 12. The heads of the delegations to the Imperial Conference to-morrow afternoon will continue tho discussion of foreign policy. That will be tho last meeting at which General Hertzog, Prime Minister of South Africa, will be present, for ho proposes to sail for Capetown on Friday. He will bo represented at the final plenary session of Iho conference, provisionally fixed for Friday morning