REPORT ON EMPIRE POLICY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 17 March 1926, Page 9

REPORT ON EMPIRE POLICY.

Labour Party’s Criticism.

CLOSER CONSULTATION URGED. By dable —Press Association —Copyright. Sydney ** Sun ” Service. (Received March 16, 5.5 p.m.)., LONDON, March 15. “The present machinery for Empire consultation on foreign affairs is radically defective, consisting of an Imperial Conference meeting once in four years, whose recommendations must be submitted to. Empire Parliaments and Imperial Economic Conferences which have even less power than the High Commissioners, who, except as sources of trade information, have been largely a failure,” says tho Labour Party’s report on Empire policy. . -

“Despite the recognition of the Dominions’ independent status, such as League of Nations membership, separately signing peace treaties, right of consultation on, foreign policy, and even the right to secede, tho gravest difficulties have, arisen since the war, showing inadequate co-ordination. The Russo-Polish crisis' in 1922, tho CHanak episode, and the Locarno agreements, are examples of. commitments made without Dominion participation.” “It is desirable,” says the report, “to organise a system of the interchangeability between Anglo-Domiuioh public services.” The report adds that ■while' the Socialists did not recognise traditional fidelity to free trade nor favour the crudities of protection and preferences, there was a strong case to consider for special arrangements with the Dominions, provided they did not provoke international dissensions.

The report suggests group migration of at least 200 families, with cooperative ownership of land and machinery. The report also recommends that the Suez Canal be internationalised. consultationTytth dominions ATTITUDE OF CANADA. 8v Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Eiuter'.i Telegrams. (Received March 16, 8 p.m.) OTTAAVA, March 15. The Prime Minister (Mr MacKenzie King), who took his seat in the House of Commons on Monday, for the first time this session, announced tha.t the British Government could not see its way clear to agree to the publication of the correspondence with the Dominion in regard to the Locarno Treaty. The view is taken that the correspondence contained confidential communications in regard to the attitude of foreign 'Governments. The British Government was prepared to allow the publication of that part of the correspondence dealing witfi the holding of the Imperial .Conference, , ''

Replying to a request for a statement of the Government’s policy, in regard to the Locarno Treaty, the Prime Minister stated that they had better not discuss it while the League was meeting at Geneva. . '