BRITISH MINISTER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27443, 17 July 1950, Page 4

BRITISH MINISTER

Visit To Dominion MR GORDON-WALKER ARRIVES PA AUCKLAND, July 16. The British Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, Mr Patrick Gordon-Walker, who arrived in Auckland by air this afternoon, after spending a short period in Canada on his way to the Dominion, is only the second British Cabinet Minister to visit this country during his term of office. While he spoke in fairly broad terms at a press conference tonight, the British Minister impressed as being one who has Commonwealth affairs at his fingertips. Mr Gordon-Walker would not say that the present machinery of Commonwealth consultation was entirely satisfactory to the British Government as he thought that methods could always be improved. Perfection was not possible. “We are satisfied that the general methods are right and that we are moving on the right lines,” he added.

“ The tendency now is for personal consultation. The theory we are working on is that all countries should have a common attitude on different aspects.” The Minister cited Korea as a good example of a quick decision .for a common purpose, and said if there had not been previous discussions on what action to take in a time of emergency, it would not have been possible for the nations to come together so quickly. Mr Gordon-Walker said that a good liaison committee was now • working in London. Its officials were meeting to obtain a full exchange of knowledge on economic matters. At present they were dealing with oil and petrol problems, but were keeping all the problems of the sterling area in general review. There was not much need for a closer permanent liaison on foreign policy because an immense amount of information between the Governments was being supplemented by Foreign Offices and meetings of Ministers, such as the one at Colombo. Mr Gordon-Walker said the liaison on defence policies had developed in the last two years and his Government was satisfied that it was working well. He considered that visits such as that of General Slim were a great help. On the question whether a new Commonwealth Economic Conference to revise and extend the Ottawa agreements was likely or necessary, the Minister said he was inclined to think that elaborate conferences could defeat their objective. The Minister was non-committal when asked to define the Commonwealth defence requirements and commitments in Malaya and Korea. The question whether the British Government would support the aim of the Australian, New Zealand and South African Governments to extend the work of the Joint Organisation for controlling wool marketing was mainly one for the producers, Mr GordonWalker considered.