14 APRIL 1923, Page 3

The Imperial. Conference is to take place this year Its

first meeting has been fixed for October 1st. At the same time the Imperial Economic Conference will be held. All the Dominion Prime Ministers, with the possible exception of Mr. Massey from New Zealand,, will attend. This is good news indeed. The disorders of the world are bound to put a strain,, no less heavy than that of war, upon the links of Empire. We are confident that they will be met as readily as were the former in 1914. Of our guests GeneralSmuts from. South Africa is, of course, as well known in this country as one of our own public men, while Mr. Bruce from Australia and Mr. Mackenzie Xing from Canada are both comparatively " new men." The three great questions that the Conference must deal with are Empire Settlement, Einpire Defence,Empire Trade.