BRITAIN AT OTTAWA

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 142, 17 June 1932, Page 7

BRITAIN AT OTTAWA

FREE AND UNFETTERED

SECONDARY INDUSTRIES

MR. J. H. THOMAS'S IDEA

(British Official Wireless.) (Received 17th June, noon.)

RUGBY, 16th June.

The forthcoming Conference at Ottawa was discussed in the House of Commons to-day.

The Dominions Secretary, Mr. J. H. Thomas, said that it would be the duty of Ministers when they met their fellow Dominion statesmen, and jwith them represented a quarter of the population of the world, including all classes, creeds, and politics* to see how they could direct their energies to obtain more and freer trade. The difficulty would be to I reconcile differing interests. They were, however, encouraged to r hope by the fact that they-were meeting representatives of their kin with the tremendous advantage of goodwill on all sides.

- The first question would be as to the steps which could be usefully taken between the Dominions of mutual advantage to each other's trade. That alone covered a wide range of subjects and raised definitely the question of tariffs and with it the question of Imperial preference. . Britain had made a great contribution to goodwill by its own action on this matter, and the British, believed that their gesture would b© I reciprocated.

Regarding secondary industries in the Dominions he suggested that where different . manufactures not made in the Dominions could be made better and more cheaply in Britain, such goods should be subjected to a process of rationalisation and agreement as between one Dominion and another. ' >

After trade and, related matters there were monetary and financial questions which must include. the whole, question of currency. He thought' changing world conditions and changed relationship in" the British Commonwealth all justified the hope and belief that -there 'might emerge from the.Conference some body representing a^l the Dominions that would be'able to,be in daily contact.;: .;' ":• ';•' ■■'■.■■ ■„ .;■' ■"■■.'■ . -:•"■•• . .

The policy of the Government was to go to Ottawa absolutely.free and unfettered with an open mind, prepared to examine every question on its merits, prepared to approach problems not unmindful of their own responsibilities and obligations, but all the time keeping in mind the wider view of the situation, if they could toy 'common agreement reconcile divergent interests and help each other, it would be a great example to the world. , ,