IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23221, 19 June 1937, Page 28

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

THE OPENING SESSION ADDRESS BY MR SAVAGE (From Our Own Correspondent) (By Air Mail) LONDON, May 15. “ I take this opportunity of affirming on behalf of the Government and the people of New Zealand our warm attachment to the people of this land, from which we have sprung, and our determination to do all that lies in our power to further the interests of that great association of free peoples to which we ere privileged to belong.” This was the introduction made by Mr M. J. Savage, the Prime Minister, to his address at the opening of the Imperial Conference yesterday. “ New Zealand,” he continued, " attaches no particular importance to the theoretical basis of our association as members of the British Commonwealth. We have found no difficulties, and expect to find none, in conducting the affairs of our Dominion with complete freedom and ability to carry out any policy we may decide upon. We realise, however, that our conditions are not necessarily those of other portions of the British Commonwealth, and, while we would deprecate any attempt to lay down too rigidly the structure of our association together as members qf the Commonwealth, we shall be nappy to collaborate in any clarification of the position which may appear to be necessary and may be desired by any of our partner Governments. “All that we as a Dominion ask is that our association, whatever its theoretical basis, should endure, that it should be made fruitful, effective, and ever closer, and that the influence of the British Commonwealth should be maintained undiminished. We are met in, most difficult times. Both politically and economically the world is greatly disturbed. Representing as we do a very large proportion of the area and the population of the world, and the greatest force for peace and justice that exists in the world to-day, we can give a lead to our peoples and to other nations which might conceivably point the way to that alleviation of distress, that rectification of grievances, that mutual co-operation amongst nations which the world so sorely needs to-day. “I fully realise that New Zealand is both small and distant, and that we can hope to play only a modest part in the deliberations of this conference, or, indeed, in the affairs of the world. Nevertheless, we hold definite views on many of the subjects that this conference has been called to consider and at the appropriate time it will be my function to express those views as cogently, Indeed as forcibly, as I may. At the same time I wish to affirm at this early stage of our deliberations that in ail things and on all subjects the activities of the delegation that I have the honour to lead will be guided by the wisest principles of co-opera-tion. We realise that points of view must necessarily differ, and that, perhaps, policies may differ, but we are convinced that, animated as we are by the single object of promoting the peace and the prosperity of our people and of all peoples, it will be possible for all of us to sink, to the extent (hat is necessary, individual points of view to attain a common end. That will be our guiding principle. “ I sincerely trust that on this occasion. when the peoples of the Commonwealth, and, indeed, of the world, are so sorely in need of temperate guidance, it will be possible for us to arrive at definite decisions which can be applied without unnecessary delay. There is. I fear, a risk in all conferences such as this that delegates will be content with an innocuous and unhelpful formula, and reluctant to attack and solve difficult problems merely because of their difficulty. Conditions are such at present that we must avoid temporising. We must approach our problems earnestly, and we must endeavour with all our power to solve them for the common good of mankind. I. for one, shall be most disappointed if, after coming so many thousands of miles to attend this conference, I should unhappily be forced to return without effective results. I know that my colleagues in this room w : ll be animated by the same motives, and I am looking forward with interest and with a full appreciation of the privilege that is mine, to the discussions that are to follow and to the good that we may be able to do.”