PREMIERS' CONFERENCE.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 16174, 27 December 1924, Page 5

PREMIERS' CONFERENCE.

COLONIAL OFFICE VIEW.

PERSONAL CONSULTATION.

DOMINIONS FREE TO CHOOSE.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON, December 23.

With regard to the invitations to the Prime Ministers of the Dominions to attend a conference in London in March the Colonial Office explains that while the Government is eagerly desirous of a conference it docs not desire to unduly influence the Dominions, which remain perfectly free to exercise preference of consultation by cablegram instead of coming to London. The view of the Colonial Office is that this is one of those cases where personal consultation is supremely important. Furthermore, it marks a long stride of progress towards intimate inter-Imperial relations concerning the Empire's foreign policy, being the first time in British history an ad hoc conference lias; been proposed by Britain upon a specific subject.

If it is held it will establish a precedent, and succeeding Governments cannot ignore it. The reason March is suggested is that the Council of the League of Nations meets in the middle of March to receive international decisions for the acceptance or rejection of the protocol. An Ottawa message states that while, there has been no official comment the fact that the .Dominion Parliament will he in full session during March makes the suggested time for the proposed Imperial Conference in London inconvenient for Canada.