EMPIRE ASSEMBLY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19886, 14 March 1939, Page 8

EMPIRE ASSEMBLY

LABOUK LEADER'S PLAN PLANS FOR DEFENCE LONDON, Feb. 9. The creation of an assembly representing the British commonwealths sovereign States, and including delegates from the principal parties in each State throughout the Empire, is advocated in an article in the Spectator by Mr. Ernest Bevin, the British Labour leader, who attended the recent Empire Relations Conference in Sydney. Mr. Bevin says that the assembly would consider defence, labour economics, appeasement and the maintenance of democratic institutions. It would be the nucleus of an establishment for world order, because other

Mr. Ernest Bevin countries could be invited to come within the trading orbit. It would revive the League idea of collective effort. Responsibility at every step should be taken to prevent the Empire's sovereign States from drifting to disruption. Secret Imperial conferences are outdated, Mr. Bevin says, and savour too much of the old style of Imperialism. "I doubt whether the Dominions realise the enormous responsibility which rest with Britain of defending all territories in the Empire, irrespective of causes of contact. The creation of such an assembly would make defence of Empire interest and concern," he adds.