SOLID QUALITIES

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 64, 9 December 1931, Page 9

SOLID QUALITIES

Britain’s Heart Sound SMUTS’S RESPEOT Returns to Cape Town By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. Cape Town, December 7. General Smuts was warmly welcomed on his return from England. He Bald -that he was seriously concerned about the economic future. Ottawa would present an opportunity to extend South Africa’s markets, but It was difficult to get markets as long as she remained on the gold standard and the German treaty existed. General Smuts said he had always respected the solid qualities of the British people, born of long experience of working with them and fighting them to the last ditch. That respect was heightened by his experience in the 9 economic crisis. “Nothing,” he said, “is fundamentally wrong with the centre of our Commonwealth. The national heart is sound and the national pulse beats well. The pound has never been worth 20 shillings since the war, and was bound to fall. The general election showed that the people were determined to stop the country drifting in sight of the breakers and demanded a thorough reform.” ' INTERNATIONAL FINANCE No Negotiations for Review : London, December 7. Major Elliott, Financial Secretary • to the Treasury, told a questioner in the House of Commons that no negotiations had been begun for a further review of international finance with special reference to the American oneyear moratorium on war debts. In answer, to a further question he said that he did not share the view that import duties and Empire preference need await the evolution of a monetary policy based on the gold standard. CURRENCY EXPORT VETO British Traders Affected London, December 7. The Hull Chamber of Commerce has decided to urge the . Government to recognise the need for some reciprocal arrangement in view of the difficulties of manufacturers in obtaining payment for exports owing to fifteen foreign Governments restricting the export of currencies. • It was pointed out that a Bradford firm which exported cloth to Hungary was unable to obtain payment, although the money was deposited in their name in a Hungarian bank, the Government j refusing to permit it to be taken over, \ and even rejected an offer to take I Hungarian products in lieu of currency. LORD GREY AND TARIFF' London, December 7. "There is a difference between the tariff as a necessary step in dealing with an emergency and its imposition as a deliberate settled change of policy,” said Lord Grey at the Eighty Club dinner.' “If any section of the Conservatives succeeds in pressing that change, it will destroy the Government’s national, character." WHEAT QUOTA . No Further Statement at Present London, December 7. in the House of Commons, Sir John Gilmour, Minister of Agriculture, replying to a question suggesting that South African and Australian eggs were being sold as New Zealand, pointed out that the country of origin had to be marked on all imported eggs, enabling the consumer to decide whether thev could be described as new laid. Sir John Gilmour informed questioners that he could not make a further statement of the wheat quota question pending negotiations with all interests concerned. He would not be able to make a statement before the recess. Mr. Cruickshank: Will you consider introducing a resolution approving the principle of the quota in order to facilitate negotiations? Sir John Gilmour .did not reply. Mr. MacDonald, in answer to a ques- • tion, said that Mr. J. H. Thomas would make a statement on the application of the quota to Canadian and Australian wheat before the recess.