EMPIRE TRADE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 117, 14 November 1930, Page 10

EMPIRE TRADE

CONFERENCE RESULT]

PREFERENCES TO STAND

SNOWDEN SUEKENDEES

United Press Association —By Electric TeU» graph—Copyright. LONDON, 13th November. (Eeceived 14th November, 2 p.m.) The Imperial Conference proved that" 13 was not an unlucky number, sine* to-day, at the last moment, it was res* cued from the prospect of absolut* economic barrenness and the seeming* ly impossible achieved, in that Mr. Snowden has been persuaded to forget his House of Commons threat to repeal existing preferences. The announcement will probably tS made to-morrow that the preferences ion Australian wine, sugar, and dried fruits will be retained. It is understood that Mr. Scullin was largely responsible for breaking the deadlock by a dramatic, telling speech which charged the whole atmosphereof the Conference and brought the realisation of how much a revelation of the unity of the Empire was needed in the present troubled state of world affairs. All guns were trained oil tho grim Snowden, and for once his firmness was shaken. All thoughts of attending Mr. Bennett's tea-party at tha Mayfair Hotel were abandoned. Mr. Bennett alone went to, fulfil his role as host. Late to-night persistence triumphed, and a.guarantee is most likely to be forthcoming that preferences remain for three years, with a parallel that the Dominions' declaration of their policy towards Britain will remain. It is quite on the cards that the plenary session's communique will indicate that the Imperial Economic Committee, in an atmosphere free from politics, will begin immediately a further examination of trading possibilities, and a survey of all Empire products, on which a detailed report will be submitted to a special Economic Conference at Ottawa within twelve months. Mr. Snowden's political purism will be tactfully safeguarded in a British postscript to tho general Conference report, setting out the present Ministry's policy against the taxation of foodstuffs. The status of Dominion High Commissioners in London as the outcome of the Imperial Conference will henceforth bo slightly moved up in precedence. Previously they have followed immediately British Cabinet Ministers, but in future they will precede junior British members of Cabinet, following . only the Lord Chancellor arid the Secretaries of State. The precedence of British High Commissioners in the Dominions shall be decided between. His Majesty's Government and the Dominion concerned.