THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8396, 11 March 1916, Page 5

THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY.

MR ASQUITH'S STATEMENT

(Received March 51, 8.20 a.m.) LONDON, March 10. .Sir !&. S. Robertson, in the House of Commons, raised the question of the Government's' fiscal policy in connection with the approaching conference at Paris. He. said he would not object if measures could be planned to keep Germany economically weak, providing they did not prove injurious to the Allies, but he feared a boycott would prevent Germany paying any indemnity. If preference were given to the Dominions over the Allies, it would create the most serious _ difficulties, and if preference wore given to the Allies over neutrals it would drive the latter into the Germans' arms and place ourselves at a disadvantage in exporting to America, compared with Germany. Mr Asquith said there need.be no apprehension that . our representatives, lat the Paris Conference would fetter. the action of the Gvernment or the" House of Commons. It was wise to participate in an exchange of views to get an idea or tho changing economic conditions due to the war, producing an enormous destruction of capital and an unexampled' dislocation of industry. .'"We must not," safd Mr Asquith. "■be led by passion or :by a desire .to make .victory secure, to adopt measures which will inflict greater injuries upon ourselves than upon the enemy. J The Government will not commit' the country to 1 a'matter upon which it must" also consult iha Dominions'." ' ' ,