LABOUR TRADE POLICY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 86, 8 October 1930, Page 12

LABOUR TRADE POLICY

ME. MACDONALD PRANK

DISAPPOINTED DOMINIONS

United Press Association—By Electric Telt*

graph—Copyright. . (Keceived Bth October, 2 p.m.)

LONDON, 7th October

After telling the Labour Conference at Llandudno that British interests were being looked after at the Imperial Conference, Mr. Mac Donald, who had previously described Britain as perhaps too quixotically honest regarding her war debts, said: "We realise the necessity, if we start trade protection of any land, of applying it so that Britain benefits and not merely again quixotically regards everyone's interests, except her own. Not a single Doniinioa Premier would consider us anything but short-sighted fools if we did. anything else. The friendship and understanding shown by the Dominioa delegates is magnificent. Some important delegates told me that they were appalled by the false expectations aroused in Britain by certain., newspaper propaganda." : ■."■ ;■■ > After suggesting that the- motto of Sir William Morris's new organisatioa should b<s "Business on Business Lines,," instead of "Government" on. Business Lines," Mr. Mac Donald said that he thought that if certain transactions of the Conference were published, it would appear that British industry had lost many chances in Dominion and foreign markets by not taking advantage of opportunities. • Kef erring to the tariff truce, Mr. Mac Donald said: "If other nations think they have got us bound and gagged, because we are signing a truce, they will soon find they hava made the greatest mistake. The trace was signed only in order to allow negotiations to begin. If they are not successful, the Government will certainly take its own freedom to make the next step imposed by the failure of other nations to meet it. : .' ■.-■■■ :•' Describing tariffs as the oldest-ideas, Mr. Mac Donald said that they could hot euro the ills of this generation by returning to the quack remedies of. two generations ago. The Government's policy was the most enlightened one of eliminating* political boundaries ; for economic purposes. . ; .■'..■■■ Among the delegates Mr.' Seullin is not inclined to credit the report that Canada is likely in the first instance to table anything like the concrete proposals outlined above. He intends •to speak for one hour on Wednesday, tinfolding Australia's viewpoint on.every aspect of inter-Imperial trade preferences. He expects other Dominion delegates will do* likewise, each: devoting the first debate to a .presentation of hia own case. * ' ' Nobody is , expected to" deliver' any sort of ultimatum. No Dominion expects ultimately to obtain 100 per cent, of her demands, but when all the. viewpoints are outlined it will be for the Committee to y seek to obtain therefrom a maximum agreement, with possible bargaining .in negotiations with Brifcaia later. ' ■ ■.■■*.. Though the opening-of the tariffs discussion is described, as a second reading debate, the official spokesman went out of his way to-night to' insist that there had been nothing in the .nature of ranging sides with one set of Dominions opposed to Britain or other Dominions, but simply a frank and friendly, exchange of views and requirements. The present expectation is that the. opening debate will last a couple, of days, in which case, Mr. Scullin, Mr. Forbes, arid other Prime Ministers will speak oa Wednesday, and other assisting .delegates on Thursday. The Economic Committee , further * discussed technical questions, including the correlation of trade statistics.