Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-16


THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH
OF NATIONS.-The Imperial Confer
ence ended on November IA with little
accomplished
No NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. tempo
rary, tentative, face-saving or what you
will-for the proposal by the dominions
Of large extension of the system of i'm
perial preferences which was rejected
by the representatives of the British
government was adopted.
My understanding is that the British
government has offered to continue for
three years the preferences now in
force as between Great Britain and the
dominions. but that South Africa only
has accepted.
An instrument entitled 1.-THE Statute
OF Westminster" embodies decisions of
the conference recognizing certain ex-
tensions of the independence of domin-
ions, which already fairly approached
completeness. BY one of these decisions
the King has the right to appoint gov
ernors general on consultation with the
dominion governments only. So there
may be native governors general
The conferees decided that new work
on the Singapore naval base should be
postponed for five years, at the end Of
which time the question of further con-
that the Singapore air station should be
completed.
Here's pregnant rumor, to be sure
To the effect, namely, that the repre-
sentatives at the conference of the
Dominions Of Canada, Australia and
New Zealand earnestly discussed the
project of an economic association of
those dominions in which very large ap-
plication should be given to the prin-
ciple Of imperial preference. It is also
rumored that these gentlemen, and In
particular Premier Bennett of Canada,
are very bitter over the very cold Shoul-
der given by the British government to
their proposals.
There are even raven-croakers TO
doubt that, should the British Labor
government then be still in power, an
other conference will be held in Ottawa
next Spring, as decided. The present
indication is that, should the Labor
government then be still in power, the
conference viii be held and some sort
Of quota system for wheat importation
into Britain will be adopted.
The Round Table Conference on
India. one of the most important con-
ferenceS the world has seen. opened in
London on November IL.
The bill providing for increase of the
limit of age for compulsory schooling
py one year and authorizing main
tenance grants to total of 3d. SOC, 900
for needy families that would be affected
by the measure has passed the
Commons.
The government expenditure for edu-
cation In Great Britain Is about $685.
000, 900 yearly.
Within few months Cape-to-Cairo
air service will be established.
Going south, the itinerary win be
roughly as follows: Above the Nile TO
Lake Victoria and over the northern
shore of that lake to Kisumu at its
northeast corner, in Kenya, 1920 miles,
Jour Gays, night stops having been made
az Assuan, Khartum and Juba. From
klsumu over Southern Kenya and over
Iangsnylka, a night stop somewhere in
Tanganyika. The next day Northern
Rhodesia Is reached and the Zambesi
Is passed. Stop is made for the sixth
night at Salisbury, south of the river
Inc next day the plane will pass above
Cecil Rhodes centopah amid the Matopo
Hills near Bulawayo, and the seventh
night VIII be spent at johannesburg in
the Transvaal. On the eighth and last
DAY hight Of 825 miles will complete
the Journey, Cairo to Table Mountain,
5,1OO miles. Imperial Anyways has long
| furnished London-to-C Cairo three days
service. ondon-to-Capstown, there
| fore, IL DAYS.
Col. Ralph Hayward Isfam, our conn
uyman, Is one of the most fortunate
men IN the world. Some three years
ago ne acquired from Lord Talbot de