The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-05-14
Conference WAH
 British Leaders
tconttnned from eaEe D


 eOthers of you here, impressed with the same dangers, though equally deploring the necessity, have felt compelled to revise your own defense preparations and it will be our task to consider whether, while preserving our individual rights of decision and action we can coordi- nate our various policies in such a way as to assist one another and as is, I know, the hope and prayer of all of us--to help forward the cause of peace"
 No Surprise Felt
 After that, there was no surprise when Baldwin announced that for eign affairs and national defense would be the main subjects of the discussions of this coronation im- perial conference.
 Prime Minister J. A. Lyons Of Australia advocated Pacific ocean non-aggression pact.
 "The Australian government" he said, had noted a tendency by states to endeavOr to enter into agreements in the form of regional pacts in respect to regions where their interests are directly con- cerned. Australia would greatly well come a regional understanding and pact of non-aggression by countries of the Pacific, conceived in the spirit of the principles of the league"
 As Baldwin spoke, the admirality had inst announced that a check LID showed eight men were killed and IA wounded when a mysterious explosion of the Spanish coast yes- terday crippled the British destroy CT Hunter and sent warships and foreign office representatives racing to investigate.
 All Countries Represented
 The conference opened at old St. James palace, in Queen Annes room. Facing Baldwin were prime ministers of the dominions, delegates of India and representatives of the crown colonies and protectorateS that dot the continents and oceans of the world.
 At the last conference, at Ottawa, Canada, in 1932, Great Britain was building up it's prosperity again and cutting down its defense bills. To- day with the prime ministers and other delegates were defense minis ters of some dominions and army chiefs of others. Australia and South Africa were joining the mother country in rearmament pro grams. Australia's program was the biggest in her peace time history.
 Expressed His Faith
 After his homely talk on national defense, Baldwin turned to the dlc- tator situation. He expressed the British commonwealth's faith m democratic institutions and said:
 "We believe in agreement as the main spring and in democratic in statutions as the method of govern ment; and we have set our trust Tn them because we think they are the best means that mankind has de- vised of preserving those things to which we attach supreme value liberty and individual freedom ot thought, of speech and of con- science"
 Before Baldwin spoke, the confer ence, on motion of Prime Minister Mackenzie King of Canada-whose defense minister, Capt. Ian Mac Kenzie is with hin-elected Bald win chairman.
 Read Loyal Message
 Baldwin at once read the loyal message" to King George and Queen Elizabeth:
 "The prime ministers and other representatives of the governments of the British commonwealth of na- tiOns, assembled in conference at London, at their first meeting and as their first official act, desire to present their respectful duty to the king and to offer your majesty and her majesty the queen their tribute of loyal devotion.
 'They pray that your majestys reign, which has been inaugurated so auspiciously by the coronation ceremony celebrated two days ago, may be happy and prosperous and that under divine providence your majesties may long be spared to strengthen the ties of affection and loyalty which unite all the peoples of the British commonwealth under the crown"
 Mackenzie King of Canada spoke after Baldwin, first of the dominion