1946 Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference
# 1946 Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference

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 in from April to May 1946, and was hosted by that country's 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 an instrument for peace and security as well as for raising the standard of living and the promotion of democratic liberty throughout the world.

This was the final Prime Ministers' Conference consisting only of the "Old Commonwealth" of majority white nations and white-led 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". Ireland had not participated in any equivalent conferences since 1932.

## Participants

| Nation | Name | Portfolio |
| - | - | - |
| United Kingdom | Clement Attlee | Prime Minister (Chairman) |
| Australia | Ben Chifley | Prime Minister |
| Canada | William Lyon Mackenzie King | Prime Minister |
| New Zealand | Walter Nash | Deputy Prime Minister |
| South Africa | Jan Smuts | Prime Minister |
