§ 58. Mr. John Dugdaleasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the speech at Adelaide by the Prime Minister of Australia recommending that an all-Empire Cabinet should be set up at an early date, he will state the views and intentions of His Majesty's Government in this connection?
§ The Prime MinisterSuch spacious issues would be appropriate for an Imperial Conference or for a meeting of Dominion Prime Ministers whenever either of these becomes possible.
§ Mr. DugdaleWould His Majesty's Government consider the possibility of sending a Minister to Australia to start preliminary conversations on these matters?
§ The Prime MinisterIt has several times been considered, but most of the Ministers who would carry the greatest weight in Australia have a full-time job here and in attendance on the House.
§ Mr. BoothbyHas my right hon. Friend in mind the summoning of an Imperial Conference at the earliest practicable moment and, if necessary, before the conclusion of hostilities?
§ The Prime MinisterI have been trying for the last two years to get a meeting of Prime Ministers. I understand that is more likely to be acceptable than an Imperial Conference at this moment, and I have hopes that we shall succeed in having such a meeting early next year. Of course, each of these Dominions has had, or is going to have, an election, and that has hung over the movements of the Prime Ministers. In Australia and New Zealand, particularly, they are very near 208 the war against Japan. There are great difficulties in this matter, but we are patiently endeavouring to solve them. We regard it as an important and immediate objective to procure a meeting of Empire Prime Ministers.