“NASTY TASTE”

Taranaki Daily News, 13 November 1930, Page 9

“NASTY TASTE”

DOMINIONS DISAPPOINTED CONFERENCE OUTLOOK DARK SEEMS “GROSS DECEPTION” . BRITAIN STILL ' INDECISIVE ‘AVOIDING FOREIGN POLICY* By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. Rec. 8.20 p.m. - London, Nov. 11. Dominion ■ delegates. to the Imperial Conference are understood to be most disappointed that after nearly six weeks deliberations the British Government has not said a simple ‘‘yea or nay to either preferences or quota. The » outlook is so gloomy that there is an /• expectation that' to-morrow Mr. R. B. Bennett (Canada)- will take over the reine, from his deputy, and plainly tell members, of the British Cabinet the whole thing savours of gross deception. The Australian.summing-up says Mr. Ramsay MacDonald will probably announce that, the existing preferences will be maintained for two or three years. If this concession is gained it will be the only economic result of the ■ ■ conference because all the. other ideas of import boards, bulk purchases and /an economic secretariat have been jettisoned. A ■ ' The terse comment of one of the lead- ,-■'. ing Dominion representatives is worth quoting:—“We have been allowed to amuse ourselves for three weeks exploring: economic eul de sacs. It is all > very disappointing and leaves a nasty I tastq- in the mouth.” Regarding the private meeting of the . Foreign Secretary, Mr. Arthur Henderson, and the Prime Ministers on the subject of foreign policy at Downing Street this morning the fact that offi- . cials were not. aware *of the ; meeting has provoked comment, particularly is the absence ■of Sir Robert Vansittart, Permanent L T nder-Secretar.y .of the . Foreign Office,- commented upon.’ This is very unusual when the British .'Secretary- makes an important statement.' Many, papers are asking whether the MacDonald Government is anxious to - avoid a general foreign policy- discussion with the Dominions, and recall that Lord Grey, Lord Curzon- and Sir Austen Chamberlain at various Imperial

. (jonferencee. made foreign policy' one of the major ?,nd earliest questions apd *• initiated the fullest and frankest discuasion on it. Mr. Hen,ders6h’s .meeting this morning with the Prime Ministers was. attended by Mr. x Patrick J McGilligan, Irish Free State Minister, of. External Affairs. Mr.. A. Henderson at’ the opening of the Imperial ‘Cdnferonee circulated a memo on foreign policy, accompanied by a suggestion that if any delegations wished further information he would place it oft 7 the agenda. • The spokesman declares that .1,0 requests came in but that the} United Kingdom /Government desired such a discussion, beginning possibly to-day. Asked if the Dominions in view of their direct interest in Indian questions would be represented by observers at the round-table conference,'the highest authority replied in the negative, explaining that the discussion between . . the British";.Government representatives and Dominions would probably be partly private and not recorded. Where a record was kept it would be available from the liaison officers. .“SPIRITUAL UNITY MYTHICAL.” ENGLISHMEN'S PERIL IN EMPIRE! Rec. 7.15 p.m.’ London, Nov... 12. In the course of . a Cambridge Union debate on. “Is the British Empire moribund?” Mr. L.‘ C. Webb, Gaius College, formerly, of Christchurch, New Zealand, said spiritual unity/within the Empire was mythical. An Englishman might be respectfully treated iri Berlin but it’ would be wiser/not to disclose his identity in the Irish Free State , and he would probably be sand-bagged before nightfall in Sydney. . .