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Otago Daily Times, Issue 18763, 17 January 1923, Page 4

Althouoii Mr Bonar Law has' lost no time, apparently, in making good his pronouncements respecting his intentions in relation to the summoning of an Imperial Economic Conference, with a view to consideration of the question of the development of Empire trade by mutual co-operation and matters bearing upon the welfare of the people of the Empire, circumstances seem likely to delay the consummation of this project. General Smuts has made an interesting statement on the subject, explaining that he has been unable, on the score of inconvenience, to accept an invitation to attend such a conference in April, and suggesting that other dominion Prime Ministers may be likely to find themselves similarly placed. Not in the case of one of the dominions does a favourable opportunity appear to be provided for the attendance of its Prime Minister at an Imperial Economic Conference within the next two or three months. In each instance the domestic political situation seems to render necessary, or at least very desirable, the presence of the head of the Government in his own country. Mr Massey has a parliamentary session in prospect very shortly, perhaps in March, and another in June, and as a result of the recent elections his own position is such that to all seeming he could not possibly accept at the present time an invitation to attend a conference in London in April. Very much the same difficulty must present itself so far as the Prime Minister of Australia is concerned, with only this difference that Mr Hughes is in a considerably less secure position than Mr Massey. It is to be assumed that the British Government is desirous of having the presence of the Prime Ministers of the dominions at the conference, but if General Smuts,' Mr Hughes, and Mr .Massey, and possibly the Prime Minister of Canada, are unable to attend such a gathering in April, qlearly there could be no conference worthy of the name at that time. It appears inevitable that the conference will have to be postponed unless some alternative basis of dominion representation be deemed worth consideration.

Relatively far off, measured by the standard of communications, are the Chatham Islands, 500 miles due east of Lyttelton and part of the territory of our own dominion, and the conditions of existence in this lonely and sparsely populated outpost of Empire naturally offer a 'marked contrast to those which the people of New Zealand are privileged to enjoy. The islands should breed a hardy and self-reliant race, as no doubt they do. But it will not be suggested that the young people born upon them are particularly well favoured in the matter of opportunity of gaining an extended vision of the customs and activities of the human race at large. It was surely an admirable idea, therefore, to bring a party of school children from the Chathams to Now Zealand with a view to giving them a glimpse of things not comprehended within the rugged boundaries of their island home. For the teaching of books and pictures is a dead and soulless thing beside that of actual visualisation. The child who has read only of a locomotive or a warship is at a sad disadvantage as compared with the child who, having perhaps read nothing of them, is yet on terms of familiarity with these examples of human ingenuity. The children from the Chathams have doubtless found it novel and bewildering to be suddenly transplanted from their quiet island to the seat of so complex a civilisation as even a New Zealand centre can present. They have been exploring the wonders of Christchurch. They have behold the Industrial Exhibition, and been conducted through woollen mills, refrigerating works, and factories galore. The instructional side of their little tour has certainly not been neglected. One is almost inclined, indeed, to be a trifle sorry for these children in the demands that have been made upon their powers of assimilation. Even adults well know the weariness that comes of a plethora of what may be termed educational sight-seeing. As these young Chatham Islanders are coming to Dunedin it may be suggested, therefore, that those who have the amenities of their visit in hand should recognise that their instruction respecting the industries of the dominion Tas been sufficiently attended to in Christchurch, and should provide some rather lighter form of suitable entertainment than would be comprehended, for example, in a visit, say, to the Abattoirs or the cement works. A source of genuine enjoyment and recreation need not lack educational value. There is a happy medium in all things.

The Lithuanians have accomplished a little coup do theatre in their descent upon Mcmel and military occupation of the city. The Lithuanian Government seems to wash its hands of responsibility for what has occurred, but no doubt its sympathies are with those of its nationals who propose to secure that possession which is understood to constitute nine points of the law. Moreover, it has been outspoken in the past in the assertion of the claim that Mcmel should bo joined to its territory. Lithuania is the largest of the three so-called Ilaltic States tucked away between Russian neighbours on the cast and Polish, and Prussian neighbours on the west. Its declaration of independence dates from 1918. The peace terms of the late war included a provision which dealt with the strip of Germany north of the Memcl River, including the port of Memel. This region was ceded to tho Allied and associated Powers pending a final settlement. The protection of it was entrusted to French troops, whom the Lithuanians have now disarmed. In reply to German protests against the Versailles

Treaty the Allies indicated that this Mem el district had always been Lithuanian territory, and intimated that it would be handed over to Lithuania as soon as the conditions warranted this. Since then nothing has been done in the matter, and propaganda to have the district made into a Free State has been encouraged, it is asserted, by enemies of Lithuania. It is contended that as the complete independence of Lithuania is now recognised by all the principal Powers of the world, the reason originally obtaining for the non-transference of the port of Memel to Lithuania has lost its validity. On historical grounds there is a strong Lithuanian claim to the Memel region, and it is urged that on geographical grounds also the port should belong to Lithuania. The Memel River forms, it is argued, the natural boundary between Lithuania and Germany, and “to attempt to bottle up Lithuania by making Memel a free state would be utter folly. Instead of trying to separate the two nations it would have the effect of driving Lithuania into the dominating arms of Germany.” Tire situation is doubtless complicated by the fact that there are three distinct groups in this Memel Land, the largest portion desiring that it should bo included in Lithuania ; the second that it should be autonomous; and a smaller group hoping for affiliation with Germany.