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the Commonwealth (especially when they concerned methods of dealing with westernized oriental Japan), and the meeting made abundantly clear the potentialities inherent in the Commonwealth for developing among Eastern and Western nations an understanding which might make an inestimable contribution to understanding on the full international scale. Indeed, each day's meetings provided evidence of the mission and the capacity of the British Commonwealth and Empire to demonstrate that nations of different race and colour, with different traditions and cultures, can share as freely co-operating equals in working out measures for securing world peace and greater human welfare. It was appropriate, toq, that the first meeting which India, Pakistan, and Burma attended with full status should also have been the first meeting of such a nature and importance to be held outside the United Kingdom. The choice of Canberra not only emphasized the vital importance of the Japanese peace set dement to the future security of the South Pacific Dominions, but the meetings were at the same time a daily reminder of the position of all members of the Commonwealth as autonomous communities, equal in status and in no way subordinate one to another, though freely associated as members of the British Commonwealth of Nations. The Commonwealth has at its disposal some of the outstanding experts upon Far Eastern political and economic matters. Several of these were present at Canberra, and their expert knowledge was made available to delegates. The documentation and secretarial assistance provided by the Australian Government were of great value to the smooth running of the meeting, as indeed were the many other facilities and hospitality which they provided most generously. The Conference owed much to the outstanding capacity and wise chairmanship of the Australian Minister of External Affairs, Rt Hon. H. V. Evatt. Except for the inaugural and final sessions, the Conference met privately, as is customary at British Commonwealth meetings, and it is therefore not possible, nor would it be fitting, to place in a public report the tentative and often personal views expressed by representatives from other countries except in so far as they have already received public expression. The general lines of opinion were summarized in the final Conference communique which stated:— The exchanges of views which have taken place on various aspects of the occupation and the current situation in Japan and on the scope and character of the peace settlement have been of great value. The Conference has been held in pursuance of the

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