IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 424, 15 November 1930, Page 8

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

preferences to stand

MB SCULLIN S GOOD WORK.

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.] LONDON, Nov. 13. The Imperial Conference proved that thirteen is not unlucky, since at the la>t moment it was rescued from the prospect of an absolute economic barrenness, ami the seemingly impossible was achieved in that Mr Snowden has been persuaded to forget his House of Commons threat to repeal the existing preferences. An announcement will probably be made to-morrow that the profereces on Australian wine, sugar, and dried fruits will be retained.

It is understood that Mr Scullin is largely responsible for breaking the deadlock by a dramatic, telling speech which changed the whole atmosphere of the Conference and brought a realisation of how much a revelation of the unitv of Empire was needed in the present troubled state of world affairs.

All guns were trained on the grim Mr Snowden, and for once his firmness was shake. All thoughts of attending Mr R. B. Bennett's tea party at the Alavfair Hotel were abandoned, and Mr Bennett alone went to fulfil his role as host. Late to night persistence triumphed

and a guarantee is most likely forthcoming that the preferences will remain for three years, with a parallel declaration from the Dominions of their policy towards Britain.

It is quite on the cards that the plenary Conference’s communique will indicate that the Imperial Economic Committee. in an atmosphere free from politics, will immediately begin a further examination of trading possibilities, and survey of all of the Emipre’s products, on which a report will bn submitted to a special Economic Conference at Ottawa within twelve months.

Mr Snowden's political purism will be tactfully safeguarded in the British postscript to the general Conference report, setting out that the present Ministry's policy is against the taxation of foodstuff'.

HIGH COMMISSIONERS

THUR STATUS IMPROVED LONDON, Nov. 13. i The status of the (Dominion High Commissioners in London as the outcome of the Imperial Conference will henceforth be slightly moved up. In precedence they have hitherto followed immediately British members of the Cabinet, but in future they will procede junior British members of Cabinet, following only the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State. The precedence of British High Commissioners in (Dominions will be decided between His Majesty’s Government and the Dominions concerned. The heads of the delegations met at 930 this morning to discuss the economic aspects of the Inter- Imperial Re lations Report. They disposed of it for submission to the plenary session, but the Conference has still not come to a decision and the report does not contain recommendations. It will be necessary for the meeting to continue throughout the afternoon. The delegates will reassemble at 2 o'clock this afternoon. It is still uncertain whether the final plenary session will be held to-cnorrow. SOCIALISTS’ EXPERIENCE WHO WOULD AID THEM MOST’ Received Nov. 14, 11.5 p.m. LONDON, Nov. 1!. Au untouched aspect of the Imperial Conference : .s mentioned by the Daily Telegraph’s gossiper. “Peter Borough. 7 ’ who expresses the opinion that not the least remarkable feature of the attitude of the British Socialist Government has been the effect produced on the international status of the Socialist movement. Mr Sculliu is head of a Labour Government, and for that reason is hopeful that his proposals will receive an especially sympathetic hearing, for it :s the boast of the Socialists that theirs is & world-wide movement inspired by common aims. To the astonishment of Mr Scullin and his colleagues. ♦hey find that there is only one party wi’t. which they can talk business, namely the Conservatives. One delegati »'i said: “It is a curious thing that if the Conservatives had been in office we probably would have been leaving wrl* some verr useful agree! resolu*ioc<. *’