BRITISH EMPIRE: Imperial Conference

A conference of the Prime Ministers of Great Britain, Canada, Newfoundland, Irish Free State, Northern Ireland, Union of South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, probably Southern Rhodesia and the Secretary of State for India will start its deliberations this week. These heads of States comprise what is known as the Imperial Conference (TIME, May 5). The Conference will probably remain in session for six weeks. The Premiers will be invited by the King to a banquet in Buckingham Palace.

On the agenda: discussion of the economic conditions of the British Commonwealth of Nations, including Imperial Preference and emigration; review and discussion of the Commonwealth’s foreign policy; debate of questions affecting the military, naval and air defenses, including the naval base at Singapore; consideration of Imperial communications; examination of plans to ensure permanent participation by all the Commonwealth nations in the Empire’s foreign policy.

Premier Baldwin of Great Britain will preside over the Conference. The overseas Premiers are accompanied by a large body of experts, who will discuss most of the economic questions in separate conferences before they are brought up before the Imperial body.

This is the first meeting of the Conference since 1921.