AFFAIRS OF EMPIRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19001, 25 October 1923, Page 7

AFFAIRS OF EMPIRE

CONFERENCE PROGRESS. SHIPPING RESOLUTION. AN IMPORTANT DEPARTURE. Pros* Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, October 23. (Received Oct, 24, at 5.5 p.m.) The Economic Conference resumed the discussion of Empire, mail and cable communications and the economic side of defence matters. At the conclusion of the morning session the conference received a deputation from the Empire Press Union, headed by Lord Burnham (president), on the subject of Imperial communications. Towards the end of the week it is expected that both conferences will begin to reach decisions, but as one delegate remarked, “ there will, be a hectic time if the conference is to complete the agenda within its final scope of six weeks.” Defence questions alone will take time to formulate. There is some reason to believe that the conference will accept the Singapore base. The Imperial Conference has decided, in the event of attempted foreign shipping discrimination against the British flag, that the Governments of the Empire will consult together on the question of how to meet the situation. —A. and N.Z. Cable and Reuter.

CHIPPING SERVICES. PROVISION AGAINST FOREIGN DISCRIMINATION. LONDON, October 23. (Received Oct. 24, at 9.40 p.m.) The Economic Conference dealt mainly with shipping and communications. The statement issued by the Conference relative to the safeguarding cf the overseas trade against foreign discrimination in any form may he viewed as indicating the mailed fist in the velvet glove. No information is available respecting the discussion on which the resolution was based or whether specific instances of discrimination were disclosed.—A. and N.Z. Cable. (Received Oct. 24, at 10.50 p.m.) The Morning Post, commenting on the shipping resolution of the Economic Conference, says there is reason to believe that behind its moderate and carefullyphrased language there lies a determined purpose which, if necessary, will oe translated into action. It is understood that there was little discussion, as all the dominion members recognised, equally with the Britishers, the importance of safeguarding the rights of Empire shipping in foreign countries.— A. and N.Z. Cable.

(IMPERIAL PREFERENCE. NO BREACH OF PLEDGE. LONDON, October 23. Sir Montague Barlow, Minister of Labour, sneaking at Coventry, said that the pledge given by Mr Bonar Law at the elections that no fundamental change in Britain’s fiscal policy would be made would bo honoured. The development of Imperial preference, which was now being successfully worked out, was, however, entirely within the scope of the pledge.—A. and N.Z. Cable. EMPIRE CONTRACTS. SAFEGUARDING HOME INDUSTRIES. LONDON, October 23. The British Engineers’ Association, in a. memorandum to the Imperial Conference in support of Imperial preference, suggests the desirableness of the exercise of intelligent discrimination in fixing the conditions of foreign loans, with the object of preserving and developing Britain’s skilled industries. It is pointed out that in the United States and France foreign ■ loan contracts almost invariably provide safeguards for home industries. If Britain adopted that practice definite economic advantages would bo secured and loss obviated.—A. and N.Z. Cable. THE NAVAL REVIEW. NOTABLE SPECTACLE PROMISED. LONDON, October 24. (Received Oct. 24, at 10.50 p.m.) The naval review at Spithead on r>ovember 3 for the visit of the dominion Prime Ministers will be the greatest display since the naval review a fortnight before the war, but none of the 1014 ships are on service to-day. There will bo nearly 100 ships and the flags of six admirals will be seen. The • dominion delegates will embark at Portsmouth in tire minelayer Princess Margaret, which will anchor off the Cvab light while the fleet steams past, including the Hood and the Repulse and all except two of the light cruiser squadron accompanying them on the Empire cruise. A. and N.Z. Cable.