EMPIRE FREE TRADE

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 127, 31 May 1934, Page 9

EMPIRE FREE TRADE

POLITICAL BATTLE

ATTACK BY LIBERALS

ALLEGED DOMINION OFFER

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, April 19. A "White Paper has been published giving the text of telegrams recently exchanged between the Secretary of State and the New Zealand Government concerning the quantitative regulation of the imports of New Zealand primary produce into this country. : The correspondence begins with the' following,inquiry from New.Zealand on October" 25, 1933:— j "There is a widespread belief on the part-of producers,in.New Zealand that . £f we undertook a drastic reduction or removal, of New Zealand's protective tariff on United Kingdom goods his Majesty's Government in'the United Kingdom would guarantee continuance of unrestricted entry of New Zealand primary products. His Majesty's Government in New Zealand would be grateful if his Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom would indicate jts attitude towards this suggestion." • Mr."Thomas replied (December 22, 1933-)-, that the suggestion would inyolve'r.jinodincation- of BritishH. policy, ;and'! could-hardly be considered rLwith reference "toMew■'Zealand 'alone."Nqri, ■we .think, "could:an examination:of'such a question'take plaije on'the-basis-of -a suggestion.^ put forward by,, particular trade interests. "' '' ■ -'■' -'<'■'■•''■■■'• ■ This appears to be quite plain, and jthe substance, of it had previously been given by Mr. Thomas. Yet it seems .thatethe^^pminioril •'will "have to'liveTUp "to the "offer of Free Trade,". i^vhichV it did-Bptimake. Iri'thei Budget debate' yesii|rtiay'Sir Herbert Samuel again referred .to. the matter'as a ■ definiteioffer?from'New Zealand^ but it wasifpr the purpose of fortifying his argument fpr a general Free Trade and not an Empire' Free Trade. : .v :■ ECONOMIC^NATIONALISM. ' .': The Ottawa Agreements, Jie said, had stimulated the spirit of economic na-tionalism-"all over :" the world, other - countries 'feeling '/that the British. Eni^ pirefwas. developing the policy.of self - sufficiency {and of trading within/itself. As --af:consequence' our' markets' abroad ; had lieeii restricted...',.•".,.'" ." - ' ;'-.;5, . How-many peroration's had.^ been de , livered by .members on the importance of developing Empire : trade. There had been eulogies, fully justified). of .the marvellous progress of the [colonies, Vemphasis/on their brilliant future, condemnation of all who. refused to think Imperially, scorn poured on Little EngJahders. 1"' had,-; happened? : A JWhite Paper had been just presented 'giving correspondence between this country and New Zealand. New; Zealand, one of the most progressive of had telegraphed eight :months, ago inquiring, whether, if they -gaye. free, or almost free,, admission to ■ goods'/from this country, "we in return give free admission of New Zealand products. AOur, answer was, No. ■TSe considered the" Government was ■making a* prof ound mistake in closing the door'to this offer, thereby preventing 'other, offers of a 'similar 'nature. ■Notf until' the channels of trade were freed jvonld- a Budget be presented in ,which full satisfaction.and pride.could :;be taken. . COMMENT. . | The '.'Daily.. Express" returns ;again gto-the..-subject<and< makes = &£ [Sir Herbert's speech, converting- him Jinto' an Empire Free Trader, whether 'he likesit or, not. . , . -';. "The Samuel of itoday,V says the ■ "Express," "is all right. ■'■ He^has.decome a . convert to Empire Free tTrade. ■ His shout last night was.'The (Dominions arc offering Empire Free j Trade and the British / Government -/won't give it.' '"-*.- ■'. : - r f "Sir Herbert stressed thel-case;that s.the refusal of Empire •Fre;e'{Tra:de to -New Zealand stopped: tbthieT .'Dominions ; expressing their eagerness tp renter the JFree Trkde Empire." • ■ ,-.:.■ : .. ; Sir.Herbert, of course, said nothing whatevertabout Empire Free Trade, nor '•was he visualising^ the Dominions but '^Denmark,, Germany^ ahd -Russia when » he sp'Pke of.other countries following (the Sxaniple; of New iZealand." ;; .?■■: Th'e^^fEvehing Standard"! today: car- • ries.the matter a sfage farther in its ], leading-article under the heading "The J.Betrayal." ■■■■•■ f; "There was not a word in Sir Her- ; berts damning accusation," says the 'writer of the article-, "which cannot be • justified. # and .supporters of v.the Government on every plat;.form .iip .and down the country, maico ;the:pledges of which,he remorselessly; reminded them. No" one could have been more explicit than Mr. Baldwin /when, .in".the speech .with which 1, he , opened •.his ; ,election campaign, ho said: -I 'We i, shall Jjave a unique opportunity • before us to!lay firm and-deep the founaationspof that Imperial economic unity .which has-been our dream for so long.' And after the election; interpreting its result, Mr. J. H. Thomas said: 'A mandate has been, given t to the 'Government for a real and lasting Imperial policy.' •/.' • ■ ■ ■-■,'.■•■-■. - ' ' . ; "Mr. Thomas was; the_ man. 'ffho, .as .Secretary for the Dominions, was prim-- : arily responsible for the furtherance of that policy.-Mr. Thomas was the man who said-No to New Zealand. 't "What a humiliating, what a contemptible position the Government finds itself ml: It falls to the Liberal Sir Herbert^ Samuel to tell them that they have brokentheir pledges and sold the : pass. To; him it falls.to ; warn them • that they tare-making 'a-profound mis- •" take' in" refusing New; Zealand's-.of- •;■ fer and 'thereby, preventing other" ipbs- = sible: similar offers.' .'. . : -. -' ; ; "Let us Tejoice that in; spite .of the f Government's betrayal : alike of -the. ; British electorate and the. British EniX pire^the cause of Empire !Free;;Trade. r goes forward. It goes forward in--the . Dominions, and-the colonies, and;-.'.at' ■ : Home.,. .The- offer from New Zealand■Js a sign of the,spirit that is at work and, unsuccessful though, it has.been : for the moment, it has given great i impetus to the; movement. . . . C The stinging words of Sir Herbert tSamuel have pronounced n. finding from .which there is no appeal." ■

; Patrick James Burke, who is await-. ' ; ing sentence for,safe-breaking at Nelj son, was Teraanaed to appear at New " Plymouth, bn ri-iSay on a charge of ' breaking ancl entering the office of the ' New Plymouth High School and stealing £14.