dated January 5, 1951: Commonwealth Conference

The conference of Commonwealth Prime Ministers opened in London on January 4, with Mr. Attlee presiding over the talks.

The first session took place at 10, Downing Street, official residence of the British Prime Minister. For the first time in such conferences, one member - Pakistan - was an absentee.

Comment by The Times:

In London, The Times maintained that a Pakistan decision to hold aloof from the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference which was to begin on January 4, would be regrettable.

The paper urged Mr. Liaqat Ali Khan to refuse to yield to the demands of public opinion in his own country on the issue of Kashmir.

``If he decided not to come at all, the London meeting will be much poorer without his shrewd contributions to the collective counsels.''

The Times continued: ``The Pakistani Prime Minister need not fear that he will lack opportunities of discussing Kashmir with the heads of other Commonwealth Governments, including Mr. Nehru.

Until the Kashmir dispute is settled the whole Commonwealth, as well as Pakistan and India, will be grievously handicapped in framing plans for strengthening international security throughout Asia and Middle East, and it is of the essence of these gatherings that frank and private discussions between those who attend them are quite as important as full dress discussion in plenary sessions.

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