FACED WITH FAILURE ?

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 109, 10 May 1935, Page 6

FACED WITH FAILURE ?

Without accepting wholly the cabled report of imminent failure in the meat negotiations, it is. apparent that there is grave danger of a deadlock. As we~have previously pointed out the differences are not altogether between Britain and the Dominions. Mr. Runciman, President of the Board of Trade, wishes to maintain and strengthen a favourable position for British exporters, and the Argentine treaty is part of his plan for this purpose, Mr. Elliot, Minister of Agriculture, is for the home producer, and for him the difference between a market

swamped by Dominion produce and one swamped by foreign produce is just the difference which Brer Rabbit discerned when asked if he would prefer being cooked with or without sauce. The Dominions may find a place for themselves between these two conflicting points of view. B.ut if they are to do so they must recognise that negotiation means something more than reiteration of their own demands. They protested strongly against a quota, and even more strongly against a levy. Now, according to the Australian Press Association's representative, "the meat negotiations are threatened with failure unless the British attitude is quickly modified." The inference that it is the British attitude that must be modified does not savour of true negotiation. Certainly the correspondent mentions that "discussion would be pointless unless either side retreats from its present position," but there is no suggestion of a Dominion retreat. This may well lead to a deadlock, and, if a deadlock does come, the Dominions cannot afford .to forget that Britain has finally the .•complete right to control her own market—with or without their consent So far as New Zealand is concerned Mr. Coates recognises this quite well, and has in the past urged New Zealand to face the position as Britain sees it, not antagonistically but co-operative-ly-