IMPERIAL PREFERENCE

Evening Star, Issue 22797, 4 November 1937, Page 11

IMPERIAL PREFERENCE

PLEAS FOR MODIFICATION AMERICA'S HAND OF FRIENDSHIP CO-OPERATION OF DOMINIONS WANTED Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, November 3. In the House of Commons pleas to the Government to seize the opportunity for a trade agreement with the United States, in which New Zealand, Australia, and Canada would cooperate, and modification of Imperial preference, were made during the debate on the Liberal amendment to the Address-in-Reply. Mr Graham White (Lib.), seconding the amendment, protested against a fatalistic outlook, which must relapse into depression. Confidence was undermined by the uncertainty on the wool market, which was disorganised through the Far Eastern trouble. America at present was holding out the hand of friendship, but would not hold it out indefinitely. It was certain that New Zealand, Australia, and Canada would not oppose improved British and American relations. . Mr L. C. Amery (Con.) said the most effective way to develop the resources of the dominions was to buy their products. Nevertheless, England and the dominions would always whnt a certain volume of foreign trade. Mr H. B. Lees-Smith (Lab.)' said the dominions must increase their trade with foreign countries. New Zealand could not sell to England the butter she would produce in the next generation. Half of the dominions’ trade was already foreign. Looking to the future, they must realise that England’s population was stationary. He advocated an intermediate tariff for the United States. Sir Archibald Sinclair (Lib.) said that Empire countries stood to gain more from economic appeasement and restoration of world trade than they would lose by modification of Imperial preference. Mr Oliver. Stanley, president of the Board of Trade, said the possibility of further development of migration must depend on dominion sentiment and belief ‘in their ability to absorb migrants. The amendment was defeated by 363 votes to 146.