A PRELIMINARY SURVEY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3995, 7 October 1930, Page 49

A PRELIMINARY SURVEY.

WORKING OUT THE DETAILS.

LONDON, October 3.

Mr Malcolm MacDonald (the Prime Minister’s son) informed the journalists of the latest conference proceedings. He read the following communique:— “ The preliminary discussions on the various constitutional aspects of Imperial relations continued to arise out of the discussion on certain matters referred to the Special Committee under the chairmanship of Lord Sankey. It was agreed to establish a committee on arbitration and disarmament under the chairmanship of Mr Maurice Dupre (Canada). “ A plenary meeting of the conference to hear general statements from the delegations on the problems of interimperial economic relations will be held on Wednesday. The heads of the delegations will meet again on Monday to conclude the preliminary survey of constitutional matters.”

Mr MacDonald added that a question had arisen concerning the machinery of communication among the Empire units in regard to foreign relations. The 1926 conference established that dominion Governments undertaking conversations and negotiations with foreign Powers on external matters should inform others of his Majesty’s Governments affected, and must obtain the consent thereof concluding arrangements. ’The heads of the delegations reviewed the operations of this policy, and in the light of four years’ experience it was felt that it had worked satisfactorily. Some dominions had gained the advantage of the status of High Commissioners. The question of their precedence was also discussed, but Mr MacDonald emphasised that precedence was a domestic matter of the Governments concerned, not one with which the conference was competent to deal. This was also referred to Lord Sankey’s committee.

Mr MacDonald admitted that the question of High Commissioners’ status compared with that of ambassadors arose, but replying to a questioner he said that none of the High Commissioners was dissatisfied with the present recognition. Mr Forbes on October 11 will spend the week-end at Westbury on the Severn as the guest of Lord Bledisloe’s sister (Mrs Vaughan), while Mr Scullin on October 18 will enjoy the week-end at Chequers.