IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 439, 3 December 1930, Page 8

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

STATEMENT BY MR BENNETT ATTITUDE OF MR THOMAS CANADA MUST LOOK ELSEWHERE [By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright.] Received Dec. 2, 8-5 p-m. LONDON, Dec. 1. Mr R. B. Bennett, Prime Minister of Canada, in a statement on the Imperial Conference, emphasises that the delegates separated in an earnest desire that the Ottawa conference would enable the discovery of some means of common acceptability for Empire economic association. Mr Bennett adds: “Mr Thomas must be taken as having condemned alike a principle which all the Dominions approved a specific illustration of which was advanced when a move was made to remove the debates from purposeless unprofitable generalities. Mr. Thomas condemned this move despite the resolutions which the conference passed, despite the fact that the conference had not seriously discussed either the principle or preferences or my own plans to make them operative. He also condemned it without offering a positive alterative proposal. I regret to refer to his statement,, but there is no other course in justice to Canada and the cause of Empire economic unity x for if the statement indicates the Bri tish attitude towards Ottawa I have little hope that any agreement Canada mav reach with the Dominions will include the United Kingdom. The time is running against us. If Canada’s proposal is to be thus contemptuously rejected. Canadians can only embrace other means at hand of a . further strengthening of the economic position” * • CRUSHING STATEMENT. ’ ’ FOR TOTTERING GOVERNMENT. Received Dec, 2. 11.40 pm. LONDON, Dec. 2. The Daily Telegraph describes Mr Bennett’s statement as crushing and sueh as has never been published during the history of relations between Britain and the Dominions in spite of periods of transient disagreement. Fortunately Mr Thomas’ speech binds only a Government which is tottering for a fall and has been dealt a fatal blow by this revelation.