IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18928, 31 July 1923, Page 7

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

MR BRUCE’S RECENT SPEECH. COMMENT BY MORNING POST. Frees Aenooiation—By Telerraph—Copyriga* LONDON, July 30. (Received July 30, at 9.15 p.m.) The Morning Post, in an editorial on Mr Bruce’s latest speech, says that the Prime Minister of Australia has evidently been thinking things out. He sees that Australia must have Allies and that they are to be found within the British Empire. Upon these firm, foundations he has elaborated his policy, which follows that of Australian statesmen since Sir Samuel Griffith and Mr Alfred Deakin pressed for a Colonial Conference in 1887.

After recalling the details of Mr Bruce’s policy the Morning Post says: “The making of the Imperial Conferences more frequent is an excellent proposal, but it will be sounder to develop the powers and status of the High Commissioners rather than to send the weakest members of a Government to London. There should also be a permanent secretariat of the Imperial Conference which would keep the dominions in touch with the policy of the I oreign Office, the Admiralty, the War Office, and the Board of Trade, as well as the Colonial Office. As for trade, that goes with defence. If we trade in common, we will be the more eager to join in the defence of our common means of livelihood.”—A. and N.Z. Cable.