DEVELOPMENT UNION

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 91, 14 October 1922, Page 7

DEVELOPMENT UNION

SUPPORT FROM OVERSEAS

STATEMENT BY VISCOUNT LONG.

(PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

LONDON, 9th August.

In a-n interview concerning the Empire development Union, the objects of whioß I explained in an article by the last mail, Lord Long refers to the support he has had from representatives of the Dominions, and further generalises on the allimportant question of Empire trade.

"Since the -establishment of the Empire Development Union was annoiinced,> I have received," he said, "most cheerIng communications from representatives of different parts of the Empire. In Canada and Australia, in particular, the greatest interest is being evinced, and I have every reason to believe that «jth& proposal that we should make the Empire one for purposes of trade is attracting a considerable measure of support both at home and in the various overseas Dominions. My idea has always been—long before I went to the Colonial Office in 1917—that w» do not utilise as we should the resources of the Empire for the common purposes of our daily life. I wqpt to see the Empire devoting itself to suoh a provision of material^ in the parts of the Empire where they are wanted, as will enable trade and industry within the Empire to be carried on successfully, and- will demonstrate, what, I believe, is a fact, that the Empire can supply herself with everything she wants, . / IMPERIAL PREFERENCE. "That view is shared by the leading representatives of our Dominions. . We have adopted, as I think moat wisely, a. system of Imperial preference,. under which we have undertaken to give a preference to the Dominions in respect of any duties, and we have also undertaken to give a similar preference in connection with- any new duties that may be imposed from time to time.- I think it is of vital importance to keep prominently in mind that this decision .on Imperial preference was arrived at by a conference at which all the Dominions were represent by their leading statesmen— Prime Ministers and others. It was an undertaking deliberately entered into by the Governments of the Empire of that day, and was therefore binding upon the future.

. "It has always seeifled to me, to take a very homely illustration, that the Empire should be carried on—through the medium of the various Governments of course—in the same way that a farm ia managed. You should grow the products that are most suitable for different parts of the farm in thcoe parts, but should employ them for the general benefit of the whole farm. So with the Empire. Wo possess everything that we require in the different parts of our Dominions—both necessities and luxuries— and our exports -with, the different parts of the Empire constituted the greater proportion of our trade before the war. I ■want to see this stats of things placedl on, a more secure footing for the future, and directed and controlled by the Governments of the Empire, acting together through such combined agency as may seem best fitted to achieve the purpose. INDEPENDENT OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES. "If we set to ■Work in a systematic and businesslike way we can make ourselves absolutely independent- of any foreign country for anything that we require for our existence. Having consolidated otir own position, and made the Empire one for the purposes of trade and commei-ce, we can then turn our attention to our great Allies, and, by arrangement, Rive them a share in the products of the Empire; Our own needs—from no 'selfish motive, but purely- from the point of view of self-]>rotection —must come first. It has been suggested in some quarters that vve contemplate a policy which would jead to interference by Governments in the administration and control of industries and business generally. Nothing of the kind. On the contrary, I arn'a firm believer in individual action. Even during the war I did not look kindly on the trade control imposed. It might have been necessary—l do not express an opinion—but I should csrtainly ba opposed to it in psace time. All we want is that the Empire should bo all-sufficing, both [or raw materials and manufactured articles, but to leave the actual use and distribution of those products to the traders and business men of the Empire. There are, I believe,

immense opportunities 5n the Empire. This movement will tend to dissipate the unfortimafco notion that for a man to move, say, from fe^land to Canada or .Australia, is tn cut himself adrift and m&ke himself ap. exile fcom fegine." .