IMPERIAL TRADE

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 February 1917, Page 6

IMPERIAL TRADE

FUTURE JiELATioNIi

[;'. .;:.";.'- /.iONUON, February 21. . ' 'ljord Baifdur, •bf isurieign's uoiuiiut- • tcu) ,"±u la ,liil/wV»Uetl 10..U.0-" ! cu;is;jii detail the iuture pi ine h.iiir >';■ p*res triage relations unci, ai. geiitum - xOiiimeraai aim industrial post-wit* pu- ....■ iicy. '.LiitT ijijiiuuiiceiiieni/ ot uic loiuicJiiuhg"' imperial, o'onierence inaivea 11 cxpcu*jnb itiwieiy i/J state cue uuiiiuiibWe;s views 111 uielorm of me resoiu- > lions cdble,ct> alunoiign measures ayuiig ni 'rescraiia o'i truuo are diStasceiUj 'iJ , feujue ujl ine .coinauuefcuieh, ,We WjLnicit is necessary f v r icne sake of die Ui.uy oi the JiVnpue to make a. serious at-. to .meet tiie Dominions who ■he-.. ciaivd that they* washed for tne development of their economic relations w/ai the United Kingdom. We cteciued aiac any abstract views we held should not I stand in the way of important measuies in the general interests of ihe .Empire. * IMPERIAL PREFERENCE. , COMMITTEE'S REPORT. - LONDON, February 21. . The report of Lord Balfour of Burleigh's committee is accompanied by a letter to the. Prime Minister, recalling the Premiers' Conference of 1Q0L:, which unanimously resolved upon urg--111; the Imperial Government to'grant preference to the Dominions products. The signatories consider that the time lias arrived to grant the request, considering the sacrifices and services ten- > dered by the Dominions in the war. ■ Tne Committee propose to report later on the question of a wider range of customs duties and how the Dominions could be met by granting them subsidies in lieu of tariff preferences. It does not overlook the practical difficulties involved, but emphasises that for the purpose of recovering trade lost during the war, securing new markets, consolidating the Empire's resources, and trade development throughout the Empire, a system of mutual -tariff, preferences is a subject which cannot be neglected. The signatories are satisfied that no insuperable obstacles are embodied in the resolution. ' ~'. . • A memorandum by Sir F. E. Smith, ~ on the committee, recommends a confidential discussion with the Dominions, before recommending a policy which may involve a fiscal policy towards the Allies. t- . . .'..,,, BRITISH PR%SS COMMENT. DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY. LONDON, February 21. The Daily Express says': All partier* are forced to agree that Imperial preference is desirable. It may make difficulties- in''.framing trade relations, between the Dominions and our Allien, but the broad principle is,now accepted. ' V ' THE "TIMES" CRITICISM. fIRE 'TIMES" CABLE.! Received this day at 8.45 a.m. LONDON, February 21. The "Times," in a leader, says: Lord Balfour of Burleigh's Committee's report is a great step towards Imperial unity. The resolutions j are based on true grounds, and for the.whole Empire's benefit. - Reference js essential to the future safety and closer union of the Empire. A post-war economic alliance must be independence of the enemy's raw materials and manufactures. FURTHER CRITICISM. [AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. fIABLE ASSOCIATION.] LONDON, February 21 , Received this day at 8.45 a.m. The "Daily Chronicle" says: No one will.(disagree with Lord Balfour of-Burleigh's Commitee's first i%solutioon, the necessity for stimulating production. An agreement upon Dominions' preference may not be difficult, but the third resolution in favour of duties which will be reducible upon . Dominion products is. distinctly controversial;; and involves a direct plunge into the late Hot.* .Joseph Chamberlain's Imperial preference. The late Mr Chamberlain's gloomy prophecies were not fulfilled, despite the atfherence to free trade, but we are glad to see that the-question has been carefully re-examinedj Post-war negotiations must consider the Allies. We must not hold a postwar threat against neutrals. A barrier against Germany after the war would drive trade to neutrals. Keceived this clay at, 11.25 a.m. LONDON, February 21.

The Morning Post states that" Lord Balfour of Burleigh's report will sat. isfy all reasonable men. The Commit. teeV resolutions aim at making the Empire united, self-sufficient, and secure. The paper cannot understand Hon. Sir F. E. Smith's attitude as the Allies cannot object to our following their example., ' • The Daily News; says: The report is most surprising. None denied that the war was likely to caune siubstantial changes in commercial and Imperial •relations!, but they are asked to swallow the whole tariff, reform ppogramnle. The war*- presumably has. not made the Dominions' more willing to expose their infant industries to the' full blast of British competition.