EMPIRE AFFAIRS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22725, 11 May 1937, Page 11

EMPIRE AFFAIRS

PENDING CONFERENCE OPENING ON FRIDAY WIDE REPRESENTATION By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received May 10, 0.5 p.m.) British Wireless RUGBY, May 9 The first plenary session of the Imperial Conference will be opened in St. James' Palace on Friday morning. The Prime Ministers and Ministerial delegations representing the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Southern Rhodesia and Burma will attend. SECRET SITTING i IMPORTANT TOPICS COMMUNICATIONS PROBLEM LONDON, May 4 It is understood that striking pronouncements on the seriousness of the international situation will be made by the British Prime Minister, • Mr. Baldwin, and the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Eden, when the Imperial Conference re-assembles in camera after the formal opening. These statements are expected to be far more outspoken than has been possible through normal channels of communication with the Dominions. Britain's Empire defence plea to the Dominions is not so much designed toward formulating a common defence policy as toward ensuring that each Dominion will undertake adequate measures for its individual defence, thereby safeguarding the Empire as a whole. The discussions on air and shipping communications will be much more important than was at first thought likely. The position of shipping in the Pacific will be a relatively minor issue. It will be shown that Germany's air lines are rapidly expanding in South America and elsewhere, while foreign subsidised shipping, particularly Japanese, has created a serious problem for the Empire, many British ships being compelled to sail empty owing I to subsidised lines being able to offer I cheaper freight rates.

British experts believe that the serious threat to Imperial air and sea communications must be met by cooperation in mapping out Imperial air routes to encircle the globe by the formation of Imperial operating companies, in conjunction with control schemes.

In connection with shipping, it is contended that a scheme must be devised to safeguard the Empire's merchantmen, not only for an emergency, but to prevent a further decline.