SUDDEN ACTION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 160, 10 July 1933, Page 7

SUDDEN ACTION.

FRENCH TARIFFS.

HEAVY INCREASES

Rise in Some Instances Reaches

150 Per Cent

BRITISH ARTICLES SUFFER. .I'nUeil P.A.—Electric Telesrapb — Copyright) (Received 10 a.m.) PARIS, July 9. The Chamber of Deputies passed a bill embodying 30 to 150 per cent tariff increases on 64 commodities, Hi,, hali' of whirli affect British imports. The Tariff Commission's report was not circulated beforehand, as is customaryi so thai members were not aware of the nature of (lie measure and demanded enlightenment.

M. Daladier replied that the liill was intended to consolidate disadvantageous tariffs, after which it was passed without debate by 488 votes to 10.

French opinion fears a further price collapse with America leading a Hood of cheap goods, necessitating a cleTensive tariff barrier. M. Daladier announced the repayment of half of the British loan of £30,000,000 at the end of July, and added that the Government was contemplating an ambitious international public works policy. France sought neither a closed door nor self-sufficiency in the economic sphere.

Expenditure had been reduced for the first time since 1020, the dclieit being £117,658,823 lower than in that year. May revenue was £9,407,059, compared with £4,282,353 in Hay, 1032. The Government desired to rationalise the French Empire markets and avoid useless competition. Friendships of Four-Power Pact. Tho Four-Power Pact was not a goal but a stage in political development. France would maintain cordial relations with Italy, from whom misunderstanding had too long separated her. Relations with Britain were constant and cordial.

The return to economic stability depended on the stability of currencies.

The Prime Minister denied aiming at a dictatorship or constitutional changes. Hβ would inflexibly preserve France from violence. She would be calm 'midst the- chaotic world of nations trying her improvisations.