THE IMPERIAL VOICE ON THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2729, 25 March 1916, Page 5

THE IMPERIAL VOICE ON THE WAR

MR. HUGHES IN LONDON

THE PARIS CONFERENCE By Telegraph—Press • Aesociatlon-Cosyrielit London, March 23. Mr. Hughes attended a War Council and listened to the discussion with a microphone. Mr. Hughes and his wife lunched with Viscount 'Bryce, and had afternoon tea at the Houso of Commons as guests of the Empire Parliamentary Association. They wore received by tho Right Hon. Mr. J. AV. Lowther (Speaker of tho House of Commons) and Mrs. Lowthor, at the Speaker's residence. _ Mr. Hughes goes to Cardiff on Friday, where he will receive tho freedom of the city, and subsequently address wounded there. Later ho will visit Manchester, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. He is expected to prolong his visit to England for at loast a week. THE ECONOMIC CONFERENCE MR. ASQUITH TO BE PRESENT. London, March 23. Mr. Lloyd George. announced in the House of Commons that Mr. Asquith will attend the Economic Confereuce to be held in Paris next week. WHAT OF MR. HUGHES? PRESS VIEWS OF IMPERIAL TRADE PROBLEMS. London, March 23. The "Westminster Gazette" sympathises with tho proposal that Mr. Hughes should go to Paris. The trade policy for which he asks must Be agreeable to tho Allies, a condition which raises many intricate questions regarding European tariff policy. Unquestionably it'would bo a good thing if_ Mr.' Hughes were given the opportunity of examining them. Assuming Mr. Hughes advised tho Imperial Government that tho Dominions desired to proceed on preferential lines, with a threefold tariff —namely, a lower British one on the Dominions, a highot Empire tariff for the rest of the world, with Mr. Hughes's Allied tariff against Germany, it would be necessary to discover whether this would bo agreeable to the Allies' policy, which must also be consistent with the interests of the people of tho United Kingdom. The "Evening Standard" says:—"Mr." Hughes cannot bo fooled or (juietened, because he knows his own mind. He lias something to say, and will say it, sq the Freetraders are trying another plan. So when they don't ignore him they pretend 'he is a dear, good fellow, but with a bee in his bonnet, and so impractical.' " The "Standard" adds: "We wolcoma Mr. Hughes's virile speeches, which are awakening a feeling ill tho country that will mako itself felt somehow or other."

"Fairplay," the shipowners' organ, refers to tho selfish folly of the Australian wheat farmer in insisting that his crop should bo carried at any cost and regardless of tho claims of other members of llis community or' the interests of tho'United'"Kingdom. The paper hopes that Mr. Hughes will realise that liis Government cannot take up tho position of Lord High Rcquisitioncr -without injurious results to tlio Empire. Toi\liogo is scarce, and for general cargo to Australia exorbitant rates aro offered without attracting tonnage, because tho owners know that tho Australian Government is waiting to pounce upon British tonnage coming along and compel tho owners to take about half the freight to which they are entitled compared with other business offering. Thus tho Australian farmer is depriving tho entire community of a thousand and one articles required from Britain and America, or, if lie eventually gets them, lie pays through the nose for freight. Mr. Hughes is much too sensible not to see the disadvantages of tho present policy. Granting the wheat problem is serious, "Fairplay" is sure that Sir. Hughes will be the first to recognise that it must always be subservient to Imperial interests. j