ARGENTINE MEAT FOR BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25679, 16 December 1948, Page 7

ARGENTINE MEAT FOR BRITAIN

“STRONG BARGAINING CARD IN OIL” HOPE OF FAVOURABLE AGREEMENT (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, December 14. “Britain has a strong bargaining card in oil which will help to force Argentina into a quick agreement on * new British-Argentine meat contract, according to impartial observers ta Buenos Aires,” says the Associated Press. “They do not share the pessimism expressed in some quarters in London over the outcome of the meat negotiations.

“Argentina needs oil badly. She ®ust import 40 per cent, of her needs to keep her road and most of her rail transport going. But she is short of dollars to buy oil in her usual markets and the Government has already announced that it expects a complete carter deal with the British Empire Jor oil. Negotiations are said to be in progress with the Shell group.” The special correspondent of the «ew Zealand Press Association says that the failure of Mr Miguel Miranda, chairman of the Argentine National Economic Council, to make his announced visit to London is believed to d® connected with the domestic political situation and not with any reluctance to negotiate with Britain. Mr Miranda’s economic policies are under hre from other financial experts in the government of Argentina, and jt likely that he is remaining in Buenos Aires to defend them. In London the Imported Meat Trade Association has stated that the threat 10 Britain’s meat supplies is “the inevitable outcome of continuing to flog dead horse of bulk buying.” The ‘’donation issued a statement in which n also said: ‘Ever since the war the association has advocated and pressed !_ :e nnportance of a return to normal ? e2 , ns -* n procurement of meat. i\ 3ce in traders' hands is the only JL-X ns providing adequate supplies, whatever safeguards are necesto av «id this sort of thing during difficult circumstances.”