EMPIRE LINKS

Southland Times, Issue 20202, 13 June 1927, Page 7

EMPIRE LINKS

LONDON CONVENTION BRITISH SERVICE LEAGUE GATHERING NO INTERFERENCE IN BUSINESS (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) London, June 10. The British Empire Service League carried a resolution recommending Empire headquarters to send a questionnaire to branches all over the Empire, inviting suggestions for using the organisation to further inter-imperial trade. Supporters emphasised that the proposal was in no way political. The proposal was defeated on the ground that it was too political in character. Colonel Nangle of Newfoundland, opposing the motion in favour of co-operation with American comrades, declared it was wrong to imagine that the United States was an Anglo-Saxon nation as only 12 to 19 per cent, of its people were Anglo-Saxon. “America is not pro-British,” he declared. “She only raised the question of the limitation of naval armaments because an in- , crease of 18 inches in the beam of their ships would make it impossible for them Ito traverse the Panama Canal and would 1 force the United States to keep separate Atlantic and Pacific Fleets.” The resolution was carried. The League discussed an invitation to send representatives to the Conference of the International Federation of Servicemen at Luxembourg. Mr Dyett said he did not object to a representative going as observer. Constituent members of the League might join the International Federation if desired, but Australia would not entertain the idea of the League itself being linked up to any international organisation. Mr Stewart concurred and the meeting decided to accept the invitation but the representative to attend in the capacity of observer.—A. and N.Z. , TRIBUTE TO MR WINSTON CHURCHILL. PRINCE OF WALES ATTENDS BANQUET. (Rec. 8.5 p.m.) London, June 11. At the Empire Service League Conference, Earl Haig said that there was no better battalion commander in France than Mr Winston Churchill, who, if he had wanted it, would have been in his (Earl Haig’s) high position. The Prince of Wales, rushing from Devonshire, presided at the dinner, and proposing the toast of the delegates, described the League as the biggest British institution. Wherever his travels had taken him the most memorable welcome and hospitality had invariably been from ex-service men. Mr Dyett, of Australia, responded, and alluded to the Duke of York’s visit as continuing the great work undertaken by the Prince of Wales. Mr Winston Churchill said that freedom and the Crown were the only bond the peoples of the Empire would accept. “Talk to Australians, New Zealanders, Canadians, or South Africans about the British House of Commons and they snap their fingers and laugh, but to the ancient Crown all owe allegiance that comes from a sense of actual possession,” said Mr Churchill. —A. and N.Z. PROBLEM OF CONSCRIPTION. London, June 10.. The Empire Service League discussed the proposal to recommend its branches to press for legislation in the event of war providing for the conscription of property, person's lives and the liberty of all citizens. The Ceylon delegate said that Britishers would not look upon anything labelled conscription. He advocated that the income and the pensions of every citizen should be taken for the service of the State at military rates of pay and if a man did not want to work at home on a private’s pay he could go to the front where Tommy Atkins would deal effectively with him. Mr Fraser said that during the last war Australia had twice rejected conscription at the referendum, but supported the idea of the whole nation’s, resources being at the Government's disposal in time of war, each community deciding for itself the best method of doing it.—A. and N.Z.