COERCION POLICY

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 147, 18 March 1931, Page 9

COERCION POLICY

Opposition Attack on Canadian Premier EMPIRE TRADE VIEWS By Telegraph— Press Association —Copyright (Rec. March 17, 7.30 p.m.) Ottawa, March 16. Speaking in the House of Commons forfour and a half hours, the Opposition Leader, Mr. W. L. MacKenzie King delivered the Liberal keynote speech jn the debate on the Address-in-Reply to the Speech from the Throne. He directed his criticism almost entirely at the Premier, Mr. R. B. Bennett, particularly attacking Mr. Bennett’s attitude at the Imperial Conference, which, Mr. King declared, had been one of coercion. The Liberals would have adopted one of conciliation. . He said that Mr. Bennett was doom-

ed to failure before he left Canada for the Imperial Conference if he had in mind the forcing of his. policy on the people of Great Britain. He was even more doomed when, on the eve of leaving Canada for London, he forced through increases in the Tariff Bill.

Mr. King warned Mr. Bennett to fix the date of the adjourned meeting of the Imperial Conference for a time when he was at leisure, as the Opposition did not intend to shorten the session of Parliament in order to make way for the conference. An amendment moved by the Liberal Leader included the words: “The House believes that the proposals made at the Imperial Economic Conference and the manner in which they were submitted and discussed by the Prime Minister of Canada were responsible for the failure of the conference to accomplish its purpose in London, and that the successful development of Canada’s trade relations with Great Britain was adversely affected thereby. “The House is further of opinion that if these proposals and certain other policies of the Government are persisted in, as would appear to be the intention of the Government as outlined in the Speech from the Throne, the very seridiis conditions which exist at the present time will be intensified rather than relieved.” MEETING AT OTTAWA Negotiations With Dominions London, March 16. In the House of Commons, Mr. Thomas told the Right Hon. Sir H. KingsleyWood that he was not aware of the arrangements of the Dominions for their participation at the Ottawa Conference. There had certainly been negotiations. The Right Hon. Earl Winterton: “When will you be able to make a statement!” Mr. Thomas: “That depends on the Dominions. There are certain difficulties.”