IMPERIAL PREFERENCE

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27987, 6 June 1956, Page 3

IMPERIAL PREFERENCE

Sir, —There is a note of uncertainty in your comments on this topic, characteristic of a true patriot endeavouring to justify G.A.T.T. This same uncertainty is evident in the words of the Minister of Industries’and Commerce: “As G.A.T.T. develops and extends its operations and plays a greater part in international trade, the question of the Ottawa Agreement gives some concern. For example, we are finding that Great Britain today, under G.A.T.T., is moving away from quotas towards tariffs.” Time will prove my contention that G.A.T.T. with its most-favoured-nations clause is inimical to the spirit of Imperial preference and certain to have a detrimental effect on the economic stability of the British Commonwealth. Australia’s attitude towards the Ottawa Agreement is quite understandable, for Australia, weighed down with dollar-indebtedness, over-committed to international agreements, is now more of an American dependency than a free British Dominion.—Yours, etc., GEO. M. EDMONDS.I June 5, 1956.

Sir.—What conceit some of these Social Creditors have. Geo. M. Edmonds (June 4) not only accepts your courtesy in giving him space to disagree with you, but hands himself a bouquet for his masterly handling of bis side of the argument. Personally I much prefer your paper’s commonsense views on Imperial preference.— Yours, etc., L.G. June 5, 1956.