PARTICULAR PASSAGE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 26, 31 January 1924, Page 5

PARTICULAR PASSAGE

IN. JOHANNESBURG SPEECH.

Beuter's correspondent at Johannesburg stated that in the course of his speech General Smuts said that South Africa had no interests in the British elections or the Government of any particular party, but General Smuts contended that, unless the Imperial Government's promises were carried out, he feared the system would fall into discredit- with the Dominions, which would why they should continue preferences if the British electorate was hostile, and they might have to reconsider their position. He expressed the opinion that Preferences were not an issue at the British elections, and if they were'they were overwhelmingly defeated. He paid a tribute to the handsome action of the British Government, pointing out that there had been no bargaining. South Africa wa's prepared to revise her Preference system, and the Union Government proposed to submit a scheme 'of Parliament.' FEELING ik SOUTH AFRICA Commenting on the speech the South* African correspondent (of "The Daily Telegraph," in a message published in the London newspaper of 17th December, said :—General Smuts's statement in his speech at Johannesburg hfst night, fore.shadowing increased preferences for British goods if the British Government's proposals are ratified, but hinting that otherwise the whole Preference system may be scrapped, is attracting much attention in commercial circles here. It should be explained that English South Africans are mostly strong adherents of the principle of Preference, and would possibly be inclined to favour its continuance, even without a quid pro quo, partly on Jthe ground of sentiment, and partly because the main burden of Imperial defence at sea still falls on the British taxpayers. The Dutch South' Africans of both parties, however, view tho matter from an entirely different standpoint. The Nationalists dislike everything tending to strengthen Imperial Preference, and are persistently harping on the absence of adequate compensation for the advantages enjoyed by British manufacturers in the South African market. An additional reason for their hostility to the Preference system lies in the fact that it tends to block the way to higher protection for local industries. On the other hand, the Dutch supporters of tho present Government only favour Preference for purely utilitarian reasons—they see the advantage of Preference for certain South African products in the British market—but if that is no longer practicable they will certainly join with tho Nationalists in condemning the whola system. # . . Personally, I am convinced that .-a breakdown of the Preference system will strengthen the hands of the ultra-Pro-tectionists in South Africa, who aim at a higher tariff on all goods of British origin which compete •.with local products.' • The "Argus," 'commenting on' General Smuts's Warning, expresses the belief that the next Government, will think twice before taking any step likely to be prejudicial to the 'interests of Britain's trade with the Dominions.