BRITISH POLICY

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 30, 29 October 1932, Page 11

BRITISH POLICY

Commercial & Financial FREEDOM OF ACTION Others Impose Limitation By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. (Rec. October 28, 7.15 p.m.) London, Oct. 27. Closing the second reading debate on the Ottawa Agreements Bill in the House of Commons, the President of the Board of Trade, Mr. IV. Runciman, said that Britain’s import duties had had no effect on imports. Not a single Euro pean country had made complaint. The motor-car trade to New Zealand and India was benefiting considerably. Discussions with Australia were proceeding. Many members had suggested that the Ottawa Conference decisions would cripple Britain in making agreements with other countries, instead of which

she was already negotiating with five countries and was ready to treat with the whole world, but could not deal with all at once. “Britain as a market and centre of finance is a world force and must remain the most important vital part of the Empire,” he said. “Her policy as a creditor country with investments inside and outside is to cultivate commercial and financial freedom of activity, but this is limited to the policy of the rest of [the world and the Dominions. We must build on the foundation of the Ottawa agreements the prosperity of the whole Empire. The Bill was read a second time by 346 votes to 77. FROZEN MEAT IMPORTS Increase for Dominions NEXT SEASON’S MAXIMUM London, Oct. 27. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Board of Trade, Mr. E. L. Burgin, in reply to questions in the House of Commons, said that the maximum increase of 10 per cent, contemplated under the Ottawa agreements in the case of frozen beef would give an additional quantity of about 105,000 cwt. to Australia for 1933, and 40,000 cwt. to New Zealand for the season ending September 30, 1933. The limitation of the Dominions’ exports did not apply until 1934. He did not think that any further limitation of Britain’s foreign meat imports beyond the figures stated in the Ottawa agreements would be in any sense a departure from the spirit thereof. A UNITED FRONT South American Project (Rec. Oct. 28, 9.30 p.m.) Montevideo, Oct. 27. The Governments of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguary have agreed to renew negotiations designed to result in joint action in the meat export trade and to present a united front against competition resulting from the Ottawa agreements.