The 1946 Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference was the second Meeting of the Heads of Government of the British Commonwealth. It was held in the United Kingdom from April to May 1946, and was hosted by British Prime Minister, Clement Attlee.
Discussions were primarily related to political and economic settlements arising from the end of World War II. The final communiqué expressed the Commonwealth's support for the creation of the United Nations as "a foundation of peace and security, but also as a means of promoting economic progress and social welfare".
This was the final Prime Ministers' Conference consisting only of the 'Old Commonwealth' of majority-white nations and white-minority ruled South Africa.
Ireland did not participate although at the time the British Commonwealth still regarded Ireland as one of its members. Neutral Ireland considered it inappropriate to attend on the basis that the Conference was "discussing matters relating to the war".Taoiseach de Valera quoted from the Oireachtas Committee on Finance; External Affairs; Wednesday, 19 June 1946 Ireland had not participated in any equivalent conferences since 1932.
Participants Nation Name Portfolio Clement Attlee Prime Minister (chairman) Ben Chifley Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King Prime Minister New Zealand Walter Nash Deputy Prime Minister South Africa Jan Smuts Prime Minister
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