BRITISH TARIFF POLICY.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20419, 14 December 1931, Page 11

BRITISH TARIFF POLICY.

STUDY OF PROPOSALS. CONSERVATIVE'S ATTACK ON MINISTRY. (BRITISH omcui WIRELESS.) •RUGBY, December 11. Parliament to-day adjourned till February 2nd, unless tho Speaker (Capain E. A. Fitzroy), in consultation with io Government, considers an earlier meeting is required in the public interest. Next week a series of Cabinet meetings will be held to study the proposals to bo brought before the House next year. It i s stated that tyie Government's fiscal policy is under discussion. debate on the adjournmcnt, Mr H. Thomas (Secretary of State for the Dominions) made a state■tuen regarding the coming Imperial Economic Conference at Ottawa, in which ho said the failure of this eonerence must not be contemplated. It would be disastrous. The main contribution which .could be made was help to the Dominions regarding foodstuffs, while the most important factor so far as Great Britain Avas concerned was what the Dominions could do regarding manufactured articles from Great Britain. Difficult as these problems were he believed, with a single-minded desire to advance Imperial unity, that success would result. A Cabinet sub-com-mitteo, with the aid of experts, was engaged in hammering out the details. Referring to statements made on behalf of the Government, which would have free discussion at Ottawa, and the fact that the Dominions wcro exempted from the recent tariff legislation, Mr Thomas said these wore groat contributions, evidencing tho anxiety of the Government to securo the success of the conference. Tho sacrifices could not be all on one side. They might be called on to give up an ideal and fiscal views long held. Let that be remembered, and let all parties enter the conference not in a spirit of seeing what they could get, but what they could give. Mr L. C. M. S. Amery (Conservative) made another sharp attack on the Ministry for dismissing the House for/two months without giving any indication of policy on urgent matters. The House wanted to feel the hand of a master, instead of this scuffling behind a cur- j tain. Mr George Lansbury (Labour Opposition Leader) moved that tho House resume on January 4th, but the amendment was negatived by 218 votes to 22. Another Labour amendment authorising the earlier summoning of the House on the requisition of 40 members was negatived by 208 votes to 17. FRENCH SURTAX. STRONG BRITISH PROTEST. LONDON, December 11. The British Government has dispatched a strongly-worded Note to Franca repeating its request tTiat France should withdraw tho 15 per cent, surtax discrimination against Great Britain. There is considerable dissatisfaction in London because France has not replied to Great Britain's earlier representations. MINISTERS CONFER WITH AMBASSADOR. (Received December 13th, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, December 12. Following the latest British Note M. Laval and M. Rollin (Minister for Commerce) had a conference with tho British Ambassador, Lord Tyrrell. Reticence was observed, but it is learned that tho Government is displaying the greatest goodwill. 'M. Laval has taken the matter into his | own hands. EMPIRE WHEAT. GUARANTEED QUOTA OFFERED. LONDON, December 11. In the House of Commons, Mr J. H. Thomas (Secretary of State for the Dominions) announced that, subject to a genuine quid pro quo, he would offer at the Ottawa Imperial Conference a guaranteed quota for Empire wheat. A deputation from the National Federation of Corn Trade Associations, representing the corn milling trades, told Mr Thomas that though they were opposed to the quota on principle, his explanation had considerably alleviated their apprehensions. They were'willing to co-operate in the working of the quota system, if, as the result of the Ottawa Conference, it was instituted. THE ARGENTINE. SUPPLIES FOR BRITISH MILLERS. BUENOS AYBES, December 11. Only a direct Empire wheat preference quota can upset Argentina's place in the, British wheat market if Russia is eliminated as an exporter, said Mr H. B. Lawrence, a British cereal trader, on arrival to-day. He said the British millers require Argentine or Russian wheat for 50 per cent, of their flour content. Tho mills will be able to use 20 per cent, of Canadian wheat and a similar percentage of Australian, he added.