SHADOW BEHIND

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 168, 12 April 1932, Page 9

SHADOW BEHIND

Struggle for Influence POWERS’ CONFERENCE Some Reasons for Failure (Rec. April 11, 5.5 p.m.) Official Wireless. Rugby, April fi. General regret is expressed in the newspapers at the failure of the Four Powers, Britain, France, Germany ami Italy, during the London Conference to establish any common point of view among themselves and their consequent inability to make any useful proposals to the Danubian States. Some hope, however, is extracted from the unqualified recognition by all that remedial action in Central and South-Eastern Europe is urgently necessary and from the manifest determination of the Governments to pursue their attempts to concert it. “The Times," referring in this connection to the meeting of representatives of all nations next week at Geneva, says that the work of easing international commerce must be continued without respite at Geneva. It considers it lamentable that the four Powers have not been able to decide by what body or group of countries the problem should next be discussed or which aspect of the problem is first in point of urgency. It recognises that the projected preferential system for Danubian countries demands sacrifices from all States trading with them and remaining outside it and that the sacrifices would be particularly severe in the cases of Italy and Germany, “Constructive proposals,” says "The Times,” “were made by Germany at the Conference, by which she announced her readiness to grant general preference to Austria and preference iu respect of agricultural products to Hungary, Jugo-Slavia, Rumania and Bulgaria. The inability of Germany, however, to accept the. original scheme rendered these proposals unpalatable to France, whose material .interests in Central Europe, like those of Great Britain, are financial rather than commercial. "Behind these differences looms the shadow of the struggle for influence < which overcasts all European affairs. Commercial and political power have too long gone hand-in-hand to be dissociated all at once in men’s minds, and whether or not Germany is to be included in the proposed customs project remains the crucial point of the controversy. Yet sacrifices by all are necessary if a dangerous period of disruption and misery is to be avoided— • immediate sacrifices which, if they are wisely made, will bring relief and ultimate prosperity. "The creation of a wide area of free trade remains the goal. Bnt it may perhaps best be reached by short stages. There is no conclusive reason why neighbouring countries should not forthwith negotiate with each other for tho lowering of every duty that seems capable of readjustment to their mutual advantage."