DELEGATES FOR OTTAWA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21137, 21 March 1932, Page 8

DELEGATES FOR OTTAWA.

The British delegation, tentatively selected, to attend the Imperial Economic Conference at Ottawa is impressive. The Secretaries of State for (he Dominions and for the

Colonies will naturally be present. For them it is departmental business. The same applies to the President of the Board of Trade. In addition, there is a good prospect that Mr. Stanley Baldwin, Lord President of the Council, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Viscount. Ilailsham, Secretary of State for War, will also attend the gathering. Had the conference met in London, all these Ministers would have been readily available, and would have taken part, in its proceedings, though not necessarily present at all of them. The fact that it is being considered necessary for them all to make the journey to Ottawa indicates how seriously the British Government is prepared to take the conference. This spirit is in marked contrast with that shown when the last, Imperial Conference met in London. The economic side of its deliberations was the least satisfactory of its proceedings. There was no lack of goodwill on either side, but there was, on the other hand, a decided want of common ground between the British and the other delegations when economic, co-operation left, the plane of the ideal for discussion as a practical proposition. Postponement of the question to the Ottawa gr.fhcring seemed almost a gesture of despair. Now there will be no lack of common ground. There has been a change of Government since the Imperial Conference met. That has had something to do with the altered outlook, but, more important is the profound change of feeling in the British public toward the question. It is but a little while since an appeal to the, pure doctrine of free trade would be certain to waken a widespread response. On the evidence of the last election the answer now is faint. A very different altitude toward such questions now exists and the importance attached fo the Ottawa Conference is evi dence of it.