COUNCIL OF EMPIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1924, Page 7

COUNCIL OF EMPIRE.

TWO CONFERENCES CALLED DOMINION PREMIERS ASKED. ■ THE PREFERENCE ISSUE. . DISARMAMENT PROTOCOL. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Dec. 20, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 19. It is understood that two Empire conferences of supreme importance are to be called shortly.

The first is the economic standing conference, of which the membership includes High Commissioners or other official representatives of the Dominions, .unless - the Dominions prefer to send Ministers for the purpose. The economic conference is for the purpose of consultation regarding the application of the preference resolution of the last Imperial Conference, and the allocation of the £1,000.000 trade grant.

The Imperial Government also contemplate calling a conference of Empire Prime Ministers about . March for the purpose of arriving at air agreement on the Geneva disarmament protocol. The conference is to be confined to this one subject, and will be limited to Prime Ministers. The proposal awaits Cabinet ratification, which is expected next week, whereupon the Premier (Mr. Stanley Baldwin) will probably cable an invitation to the Prime Ministers of the Dominions. “OF GENERAL IMPERIAL INTEREST.” CORRESPONDENCE IN COMMONS. Received Dec. 20, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 20. • Correspondence between the Imperial and Dominion Governments “relative to matters of foreign V policy and general Imperial interest” is. to be tabled in the House of Commons to-day, but will not be available for publication here for several days. ISSUING THE INVITATIONS. Received Dec. 21, 11.5 p.m. London, Dec. 21.

The Observer's diplomatic correspondent says it is -confidently expected that the invitation to the special Imperial Conference will be cabled from London to the Dominions this week-end.