CONFERENCE NEAR ITS END.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20624, 13 August 1932, Page 15

CONFERENCE NEAR ITS END.

AN .OPTIMISTIC SURVEY. WORK OF EMPIRE MARKETING ! BOARD., OTTAWA, August 11. Now that the currency declaration is framed and trade agreements are reaching the stage of final decisions, it is clear that the conference will end next week, unless thero are untoward developments with Canada, which is most unlikely. The British spokesman attended the Press interview to-day, and gave a much more elaborate survey of the confer nee than hitherto. It is regarded as the most important announcement sinei the conference opened. He stated that the British delegation expects such progress as will make it possible to hold the plenary session next Thursday, at which the preferential agreements between Great. Britain and the Dominions will be signed and sealed. There is every indication that the conference, which is progressing satisfactorily, will be a complete success, in which Canada will fully participate. The preference system which Great Britain initiated last year has definitely come to stay, and will be wid'lv expanded. It is forecasted that there will probably be an enlargement of tho Empire Marketing Board, the Dominions contributing to tho cost, in view of the proved value of the Board's work, particularly agricultural work. One of the duties of the new body will bo to keep the Ottawa trade agreements under constant review.

Closer Relations. It is emphasised that the British delegation is anxious to reach a very good and generous agreement with Canada, not for negativo reasons, but for cementing closer tbo relations already existing between the two countries. "We fully recognise the position of Canadian industries," said the spokes man. "It is no part of British policy to do anything prejudicial to the development of the secondary industries iu Canada, Australia, Now Zealand, or any other Dominion, just as the Dominions have no desire to prejudice the development of • British agriculture. Great Britain and Canada havo their owp domestic problems, and each reSpects and appreciates the,other's problems. Facing the task ii» this spirit wyi undoubtedly enable an amicable agreement." Replying to an American correspondent, the spokesman emphasised that Ottawa "is not aimed against foreign countries. It is a British Empire effort to get together and survive the world depression, and, it is hoped, to open fresh channels of trade vhieh will give a helpful load to the whole world." He indicated that no recommendations would be made at Ottawa to tho world monetary conference, nor would thero i be any official link, but the Ottawa resolutions would naturally havo an important bearing on tho forthcoming international discussions. Empire Marketing Board. The sub-committee on the existing machinery for economic co-operation within the Empire has considered its report, giving especial attention to tho Empire Marketing Board's work. The desirability of co-ordinating tho active ties of the different parts of this machinery for economic co-operatiou, and the development of existing methods, of economic consultation wore also examined. The committee found the prop, lems involved are: (1) There exist H official economic bodies, such as tho Etnplro Marketing Board, the Imperial Economic Committee, the Shipping Committee, and the Agricultural Bureau. (2) The question arise? whether there js overlapping between these bodies, or whether thero are any gaps, which might require additional ma chinery. This question is. not yet answered. ,„.■», (3) What shall be the Empire keting board's future. It was pointed out that the Board was formed when tbo British Governinent failed to give the preferences promised p,t the 1083 Imperial Conference. The position Had now ehauged because Great Britain approved of a consider •to'mftm Bf' prpftwwe »» a settled policy, The question anses whether, after the end of the flnaneial year the {node for the Marketing Board should not be contributed partly by the Dominions, instead of being entirely a burden on the British taxpayer, The committee will recommend that a epmmittee on which every Empire Government will be represented,, shall meet in London, jn order to examine the problems, and present a report in the next few months, this report to be sent back; to the respective governments for whatever action they may deem necessary.

Rr«ta» for the Boan|. This question, whether the Dominions' should not hear a proportion of the cost of the Empire Marketing Board wan discussed at a meeting of the subcommittee on ecenpmle cooperation, and the view was expressed that the Board had done excellent work. Its object tives, facilitating the development and marketing of Bmpiro goods in Great Britain, had been attained with a gratifying measure of success. The Dominion representatives unanimously agreed that the work should be continued, RBd expressed the- view that Great Britain should not be asked to bear the whole post, and that the Pominion Governments might take oyer a share by making annus! contributions. The' position between Great Britain and Canada '* straightening out, as predicted. There remains some resent* ment of the fact that Great. Britain singled Canada out for a written communication criticising her proposals, whereas the negotiations with all the qther Dominions were conducted verbally, giving rise to the suggestion that Great. Britain was slightly distrustful and wished to put the matter on record, Starting on New Basis. Now. however, the two groups of experts are going ahead ar> a new basis, Forgetting the erigina! divergent estimates which caused all the trouble, they are going into details of every it m on the Custojns schedule, and making substantial progress, probably resulting in an agreemont on the Ualnnees of new trade to-morrow. Then Canada will be in line with, £ne other Dominions, and Great Britain will bo able to announce her preference and quota dpciiiens, •, ~ „„„ Canada b»s made considerable progress to negotiating trade agreements with India and South Africa- The revision of the treaty with Australia w nearing completion, and slight flcations of the New Zealand treaty are being discussed.