BRITISH T.U.C.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 161, 27 June 1930, Page 5

BRITISH T.U.C.

ECONOMIC COMMITTEE’S REPORT WORLD'S GROUPING PROBLEM AND DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY [British Official Wireless.] Received 27, 12.30 p.m.) Rugby, June 26. The general council of the Trades Union Congress to-day issued the long-awaited report of its Economic Committee, which is composed oi the most influential leaders of the Labour movement, including Messrs John Beard, Ernest Bevin. Ben Tillett Will Thorne and Arthur Pugh. The report says that various economic blocks had been considered, such as the united States of Europe, as proposed by M. Briand, an AngloAmerican alliance and an economic group of the British Commonwealth. EUROPEAN PROBLEM. Regarding the European group, it is pointed out that tho countries in it would be competing against each other, since they manufacture, practically speaking, the same kinds of goods An alternative to this method of grouping was for this country to maintain a position ot isolation, making the best bargain possible with anyone and everyone. “That is our traditional policy, ’ the committee declares. “But is it possible to maintain it any longer? It has to be remembered that other groups are actually coming into existence, and this being so, has the nolicy of isolation any chance of succeeding in the future?” WORLD UNITY. As to world economic unity, the committee savs that it would desire that, but unfortunately it could not be regarded as at present practicable. EMPIRE POLICY. Discussing the pros and cons of economic unity of the British Empire, the committee says: “The factors are that a block already exists in a ten tative kind of way. that there are undoubtedly ties of sentiment that count still" in the economic sphere, that supplies of raw material and of manufactured goods could be balanced, that the group is rich in raw materials and is, in fact, almost selfcontained, that there is to be. to a large extent, a common language, and that there is abundant opportunity for movements of the population within the group. It has further to be remrnbered that there is already, to some extent, a tariff bond within the Commonwealth >n the form of preferences and other commercial discriminations applying to both the dominions and colonies. ECONOMIC BLOCKS. “The committee declares that if the policy of the creation of economic blocks continues to be pursued by other nations, then the most practicable group, from this country’s viewpoint would appear to be the consolidation of the British commonwealth. Such policy would in no way effect Detrimentally the British support of and. participation m the work of the League ot Nations, but rathei to the contrary, Britain would be in a better position to strengthen the scope and authority of the League. Naturally we should not be prevented by this policy from concluding European or other international agreements regarding the marketing of coal, steel or other commodities. The difference would be that we should bargain as a commonwealth group instead of as Great Britain, and in many cases this would be a decided advantage.” IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. The committee urges that the Imperial Conference should press for the full development of economic relations between countries of the British commonwealth, but it is vitally necessary to avoid antagonism either to European aims or American policy. It is suggested that regular Imperial economic conferences should evolve an economic policy for the British commonwealth independently of party politics. There should also be an inter-commonwealth economic secretariat to investigate problems in general. . The Council of the Trades Union Congress has approved the report which has been prepared with a view to the forthcoming Imperial Conference The report may be regarded as an important development in the controversy which has been aroused by tlie campaign of Lord Beaverbrook and Lord Rothermere for Empire economic unity. The declaration that “the policy of isolation is no longer possible” is used as a headline in the “Evening News,” Lord Rothermero’s newspaper, which declares: “Tho committee’s decisions are at complete variance with the free trade policy -'f tho Hon. Philip Snowden. Chancellor of the Exchequer.”