INTER – IMPERIAL RELATIONS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18718, 6 November 1930, Page 9

INTER - IMPERIAL RELATIONS.

Faced By Empire Leaders. WORK OF IMPERIAL CONFERENCE British Official Wireless RUGBY, November 4. The heads of the delegations of the Imperial Conference made further progress to-day with the final consideration of the constitutional aspects of inter-imperial relations. They also approved of the reports of the various committees, including those on Singapore Base, war graves and arbitration and disarmament. In regard to th* last-mentioned report, the delegates generally favour improving the machinery for the peaceful settlement of all forms of international disputes. International Disputes. The principle underlying the General Act was approved, with reservations applying to disputes prior to the accession of the Act ,and also disputes in which the parties have agreed on other methods of peaceful settlement, and disputes between members of the British Commonwealth of Nations. The delegates also agree that the draft disarmament convention offers an excellent basis for progress and that everything possible should be done to call an actual disarmament conference as soon as possible. The Dominion delegates also generally agreed on the desirability of the proposed amendments to the League Covenant to harmonise with the Kellogg Pact. Aviation Report. The Civil Aviation Committee of the Conference reviewed the progress of Imperial air communications witn heavier-than-air craft since the last conference, and were impressed with the commercial and political advantages of developing and speeding them up still further. Some expressed th* view that the next stage will be the opening next year of the regular service between England and South Africa. This would be followed by an extension of the weekly air service between England and India to Australia. This is recommended when the facilities offered on the latter half of the journey are equal to those in the early portion. Preference is to be given to Empire air routes in the matter of air mails. It is also recommended that the personnel of the existing liaison system be placed on a more permanent basis and that interchange for periods of service could take place between administrative and technical air officers in the Empire. Technical officers should confer for the purpose of evoking a permanent standard of airworthiness within the Empire. In view of the inquiry into the RlOl disaster, the committee made no recommendations regarding airships.

QUESTION OF PREFERENCE. HOPES OF DOMINIONS. United Press Association —By Electrte Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, November 4. A matter of direct interest to Australia has been a keen debate on Economic Co-operation Committee in favour of retaining the existing preference. The heads of the delegations, notably Mr Molony at the last two meetings, alluded to Mr Snowden’s House of Commons declaration in favour of wiping out all preferences at the first opportunity. It is emphasised that in Australia’s case, her preferences to Britain were worth £9,000,000 yearly, compared with £2,000,000 she enjoyed at the hands of Britain. It is urged that Britain’s favoured position with Australia is just as worth retaining, as Australia's advantage to Britain, if the extension thereof could not be entertained. It was significant that every Dominion supported the Australian and Canadian arguments, Britain’s decision on which has not been revealed. Wheat Quota Discussed. Britain’s attitude to the wheat quota is still awaited. Though Canada and Australia last week had every reason to believe that the figures previously cabled met Britain’s views, it can be said that both Canada and Australia asked for a percentage of something over 60, obviously as a bargaining margin, while Britain talked around figure 50. Hope is not abandoned that a compromise of 55 will be accepted. Forecasts from reliable quarters from the beginning of the Conference have been that* the only economic results would be the wheat quota and the creation of an economic secretariat, but it is understood that the secretariat idea has been rejected. There is a strong but not unanimous Dominions’ feeling against the creation of another permanent body involving a high salaried executive. It was argued that there are sufficient experts on the Imperial Economic Committte and the Empire Marketing Board to divide between them the constant watch on the Empire’s economic affairs. This view is most likely to prevail. Empire Air Service. The pious hopes of the Civil Aviation Committee that the Anglo-African regular air mail service will soon be followed by the extension of the Indian service to Australia received little encouragement. It is understood that an Australian delegate indicated that owing to the present financial stress there was little hope of Australia taking immediate action. Something may arise after the Conference from a new and more modest proposal, omitting the present idea of a costly subsidy. The chief hope at present is that something may be done to link Karachi and Colombo by air, this saving ten days in the transit to Australia.