SOVIET GOODS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20630, 20 August 1932, Page 15

SOVIET GOODS.

FRANK VIEWS AT OTTAWA. COMMUNISM AND CHEAP TRADE. BRITISH DECLARATION OF POLICY. • - (I'KITEI) PRESS ASSOCIATION—BY ELSCTRIC TKLEGJIArH—COPYRIGHT.) (Received August 19 th, 10.45 p.m.) OTTAWA, August 19. The minutes of the Conference Committee, discussing Russian dumping, on which the leaders of the Empire delegations frankly expressed their views, have a special interest in view of the fact that negotiations have now reached the final stage. Mr Neville Chamberlain said that Britain would not tolerate the ruin of the British trading system by the methods of a quite irresponsible seller. Britain would not submit to unfair competition preventing the restoration of world confidence, and the raising of price levels. He added that Russia's export trade should not be destroyed: "We could not destroy it if wo tried, but if it were destroyed there would be the most serious reactions. One probable result would bo that Russia would default in hor heavy debts to Germany, thereby ruining that country and hindering tho world's recovery." . , Mr Chamberlain expressed the opinion that any declaration by the Ottawa Conference should go just far enough to prevent unfair Russian competition against the Empire and no further, thus supporting tho British formula, "whereas the various nations of the British Commonwealth have come together in conference for the i rpose of improving trade among all the Empire countries and creating a new Imperial economic system, these nations will not permit that trade and that new system to be jeopardised by unfair competition on the part of any country outside the Empire." It is noteworthy that tho declaration does not mention Russia. The delegates drew attention to the fact that Latvia and Finland are also dumping goods. Mr S. M. Bruce said that Russia was deliberately trying to keep prices down. If she succeeded she would cause ruin. Mi Bruce favoured following Britain's lead.

Canadian Embargo. Mr E. 33. Bennett (Canadian Prime Minister) justified the Canadian embargo on Russian goods, on political, economic, and humanitarian grounds. Canada, he said, was being flooded with Soviet propaganda, niming at the destruction of the entire British aystem. This Red campaign was financed out of funds which Russia received from Britain in trade. The slavery system in Russian labour was sufficient justification for the embargo. That was reason why Canada raised her present barriers. He added that the British proposal would be absolutely worthless m the event of the return to power of the British Socialist Party, which was responsible fpr the existing Anglo-Rus-sian trade treaty. Mr J. G. Coates admitted that Soviet propagaifta was active in New Zealand, aiming to destroy the capitalistic system, but it would bo dangerous for the Conference publicly to declare any intention to destroy Russian trade. He considered that any Empire action against Russia might simply transfer the trade Russia now has to the United States. Neither South Africa nor the Irish Free State backed Australia, New Zealand, or Canada. It is one of the ironies of the Conference that Britain and the Free State stand together on the Russian question. The Hon. N. C. Havenga said that South Africa was buying Russian petroleum because it was cheap. This trade would be continued. Mr Sean Lemass, with equal frankness, said that Ireland was buying Soviet goods becauso they were cheap. The Free State would not, under any circumstances, put an onibargo on Russian imports. The "Daily Telegraph" says: "Admittedly the" balance of trade with Russia is unsatisfactory, but the_ fact remains that important industrial interests here are largely dependent on export trade to Russia, which an embargo will wholly destroy. Britain has no wish to sever permanently all trade connexions with Russia, which may in time come to stand on a different footing." The paper adds that dumping is a different matter. A strong stand against that should be taken and should receive cordial and general approval. EMPIRE MARKETING BOARD (BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.) RUGBY, August 18. The main work at Ottawa to-day consisted of shaping an agreement in preparation for Saturday's session. The United Kingdom delegation has undertaken to finance the essential work af the Empire Marketing Board until September of next year.