"TURN FROM EUROPE"

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 14, 17 July 1922, Page 6

"TURN FROM EUROPE"

BRITAIN'S EMPIRE MARKET

COLONEL AMERY ADVISES ffew

OUTLOOK

DROP TRADITIONS AND SPECIAL

INTERESTS.

(UNITED PKISS ASSOCIATION.—COPIMGBI.)

(AUSTRALIAN - SEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.)

(Received July 17, 8 a.m.)

LONDON, 16tb July. Colonel Sir L. C. Amery, in an article in the Sunday Express entitled "Turn from Europe," says: "The European market was not, even before the war, our--most important market. Our total exports in 1913 to our late enemies and Russia were only valued at £97,000,000, compared with £209,000,000 exported to the Empire. Whatever may have been, the value of European trade before tho war, it is bound to foe diminished, foi many years to come by the impoverishment of Europe, :by the new political divisions which have cut right across th'> natural lines of economic development, and by the political and social unrest. Furthermore, every one of these coun-. tries, in order to find revenue and to shelter its national industries against the wild fluctuations of exchanges, is bound to fix its tariff rates far higher than before the war. Therefore, it is idle to imagine that we can look to European trade to help us out of the serious economic condition in which war has left us. My view is that we should not worry unduly about .Europe,' but: should throw ourselves wholeheartedly into the task of developing the immense resoiirces .of the British Empire. The way to do it will come easily enough if only we have tho will, that is if we are prepared to do the things necessary to carry out our purposa without inquiring at every step whether it suits .the traditions of this or that party in the State, or the interests of this or that particular trade or locality." ■„ The article emphasises the necessity for a revival of the flow of emigration from Britain to develop the temperate regions of the Empire, and for'the development of the tropical and sub-tropical regions by railways, harbours, and public works of all kinds. "To secure a full return from these policies, they must bt. accompanied by an effective policy of Imperial preference, not merely in Customs duties—though I attach the greatest importance to that, and should like to see the existing system of Customs preference in this country widely extended—but also preference' in stamp duties and other taxes on the investment of capital,"as well as preference in the fostering of shipping on the Empire routes, and the fostering of airship services along these routes.'