The Stratford Evening Post With which is Incorporated “THE EGMONT SETTLER.” (Established 1890.) TUESDAY, JULY 19, 1932 Ottawa Preliminaries

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 496, 19 July 1932, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post With which is Incorporated “THE EGMONT SETTLER.” (Established 1890.) TUESDAY, JULY 19, 1932 Ottawa Preliminaries

fANADA. doubtless, feels that her great day has arrived with the near opening of the Ottawa Conference- The swarm of delegates and their camp followers has reached Ottawa, and the flood of preliminary oratory has started, -it will be very difficult for most of the speakers to say anything fresh, they having freely expressed before their departure the praiseworthy sentiments animating them. there is anxiety on the part of some visitors to get in first, at Canadian welcome gatherings, otherwise their “thunder” may be stolen. There is a cianger that the general public will become bored with the reports of many speeches framed on similar lines, and may confuse the shortcomings of the orators with the importance of the actual Conference. Naturally, the respective nations take interest in the doings of their own representatives, but it is doubtful if they wish familiar speeches to be cabled to them, day after day. They do not have to read these, of course, but any evasion of duty in this direction may cause them to ignore items which are important to themselves. It must not be thought that. Ottawa is merely an Empire debaters’ holiday, conducted at large expense. The results will be of real consequence to every man, woman and child in the white lands of tire Empire. The present generation will have its lot lightened if Empire inter-trade is pull on a satisfactoiy fooling, and posterity will share in this harvest, or will inherit some of the penalty if the Ottawa gathering proves a failure. If there are any in, say, New Zealand, who have not overwhelming faith in their own country’s delegates, that must not mean that little interest need be taken in the Ottawa decisions. Britain has prepared comprehensive plane, and will be represented by her leading statesmen, and experts on every topic likely to be introduced, and it is to what the Motherland proposes that most attention should be given. Happily, there is no idea in the British delegates’ aim to attempt to “sell a pup” to any of the overseas’ lands, thus there need be no fear of the consequences of some of the smaller countries’ representatives being out-gcnerallecl. The preliminary attitude of mind towards the Ottawa Conference must be friendly and non-sus-pecting, so that calm judgment may be given as to the discussions and decisions.