A NATIONAL POLICY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2955, 15 December 1916, Page 28

A NATIONAL POLICY

1 APPEAL TO BRITISH WORKERS. Tlie British Empire Producers' Organisation, on tko council of which are delegates from the oversea Dominions, Dependencies, and Crown colonies, has issued a manifesto containing tho following passages:— If the British people are to resolve that they will never again leave national safety to chance, then it follows that wo can never Teturn again to the old policy, nnder which Germany was able to capture our vital industries,control our raw materials, and undermine our financiaL-and political stability. We believe 'that the great majority of tho people of Great Britain recognise that, to meet the now situation, new measures are needed, and that old economic and political views must not be allowed to stand in the way of national security. But there is still a minority of persons who maintain- that when peace is restored we must restore also the old relations with our enemies. They maintain that this will bo tho best guarantee of a continuing peace. But they forget that war arose under the very conditions which were, supposed to assure peace, and which, in point of fact, left us unprepared for war with many of our vital interests under enemy control. _ Germany is making gigantic preparations for a commercial war which when peace is restored shall, gain for her that world-wide domination which she has failed to seize by force of arms. If we are to meet this menace to our national existence, if all the sacrifices of. life and, of treasure which the nation has made are'not to be made in vain, it is imperative that we should take prompt steps to meet the danger. Wo need a national policy for a national peril, a defensive policy for the whole of the Empire, which will unite the British Dominions, Crown colonies, and Dependencies with the United Kingdom for mutual defence and _ mutual support. The British Empire Producers' Organisation has been formed to promote that policy. It advocates: (1) Tltafc the Empire shall produce and manufacture all its own requirements. (2) That British capital shall be attracted to British' industries. (3) That British merchandise shall be carried in UrcSjsh shins. , (4) That British working men shall ho employed in preference to ferign working men, and bo secured against competition by sweated alien labour. The British Empire Producers' Organisation appeals to the great Labour organisations to follow tho lead of their oversea comrades'in tho self-governing Dominions and to -unite in demanding a national "policy for the security of industry and for the future prosperity of tho race.