LEAGUE'S GOOD WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 48, 25 August 1926, Page 9

LEAGUE'S GOOD WORK

AUSTRALIAN'S TESTIMONY

PROPOSED ECONOMIC CONEEBENCE.

(A«rf»lian-New Zealand Cable Assn.). v LONDON, 24th August.

In commenting on cable messages from Australia, to the effect that the League of Nations' proposed Economic Conference is unpopular there, in ao far as it is dealing with economic questions, Professor D. B. Copland, of Melbourne, who is returning from Geneva and Paris, informed the Australian Press Agency that.he had investigated the work of the preparatory committee of the proposed conference, as. well as the permanent economic committee of the League. He was convinced that the latter had been very successful in fhe restoration of the financial stability; of Austria and Hungary, and the reduction of Customs formalities. It was *t present attacking the question' of double taxation, on which experts had comprehensively reported. The International Labour Office was examining the control of industrial conditions. It all showed that the League was engaged ou economic problems from the foundation, regarding the economic obstacles to peace as no less important than political and national obstacles. It was mainly on tliis acoouit that thd conference of 1927 had been\proposed. FACTOR IN STAEILISATIONTko League, aaid Professor Copland, was always more impressed by European than by world probloms. Europe's, differences since the war were largely, economic. No doubt the League was the most important factor in stabilising. Europe.

In regard to the preparatory committee, the professor said: "It is » serious matter that there is no Australian member, whereas Canada and India realised that it was very important that they should impress their viewpoint on the questions that are bound to arise affecting their interests." Australia might usefully consider Canada's experiment of having permanent representation at Geneva.

The work of the Conference, Professor Copland added, vrould bo threefold: (1) Agricultural production; (2)' industrial organisation; (3) problems of commerce and marketing, in«k»ding tariffs. But Australia's alam was mistaken, for the problem was- Jiost vital to Centra* Europe. M-'wtk recognised lhat iho loweriuz «f tariffs was necessary for EuropaV recovery. The admission cf GermMiy to the League was vital (o its swfeess, though Jiussia. now opposed it, since Get*manv's admission would turn GermaaS westwards. No doubt JBaf^W tgj&r