6 DECEMBER 1930, Page 2

* * * Mr. Bennett's Retort •

The papers of Tuesday published an indignant answer by the Prime Minister of Canada to Mr. Thomas's stric- tures. He said that he had waited for a repudiation of these strictures by the British Government, but that he now regarded the silence of the Government as an " endorsation of them. He explained• that his original proposal was meant to be elastic. Up to the time of Mr. Thomas's speech he had firmly believed that his proposal could be revived at Ottawa.

" Now the Secretary of State for the Dominions has condemned

beyond the possibility of further discussion, and in which is deeply resented by the Government of Canada, the proposal which I made . . . If this statement indicates what is to be tho attitude of the United Kingdom at the Conference to be held at Ottawa within the next twelve months, then I have little hope that any .agreement which Canada may reach with the overseas Dominions will include the United Kingdom."