BRITISH TARIFF

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 304, 8 December 1931, Page 7

BRITISH TARIFF

FRICTION WITH FRANCE DELEGATION'S VISIT POSTPONED STATEMENT BY FRENCH MINISTER. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 8, 12.30 p.m.) Rugby, Dec. 7. Ab anticipated, the postponement of the visit of the French trade delegation to London was announced yesterday in Paris The announcement stated that the British Government, while accepting the principle of friendly conversation on the tariff question, declared that immediate conversations would be premature, as no modifications could in the present conditions be made in the new British tariffs. The French Minister of Commerce in a statement says that the French public is painfully surprised by the outspoken criticism by Mr. Runciman of the surtax imposed by France on British goods. He denies that the surtaxes discriminate against Britain, as they apply to other countries as well and the decree sanctioning them was promulgated before the fall in the value of sterling. As pointed out by Mr. Runciman on Friday, the decree was actually put into force on November 14, just before the first announcement of the new British duties. It applies in varying degrees to a series of countries with depreciated currencies, including Britain, Australia, India, Mexico, Denmark, Sweden, the Argentine, Uruguay and Norway. A maximum of 15 per cent, surtax was imposed on imports from Britain, Australia, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. The “Daily Telegraph” notes in respect to the coal surtax that it applies to Britain alone, because she is the only country in the category which exports coal to France. The “Post” says that tho British Government has been compelled to take emergency measures which, being only for six months, will no doubt bo succeeded by a permanent tariff on a lower scale. In the meantime, if France and England realise the suffering on one side and the necessity on the other, it will help them to arrive at a spirit of mutual forbearance. The “Daily Herald” urges a policy of international agreement on the tariff question. Referring to the approaching disarmament conference it says similarly that the time is ripe for an all-round consideration of political and commercial problems, reparations, war debts and tariffs which, equally with armaments endanger the stability and security of all countries. A VITAL NECESSITY. London, December 7. The “Daily Herald” demands the immediate opening of negotiations with France, expressing the opinion that an Anglo-French commercial agreement is a prime need. Even the Imperial Conference should not be allowed b* stand in the way, otherwise there would be six months of bitter conflict, tariff walls all over the world getting higher and higher. M. Hymans, Belgian Foreign secretary, and M. van Langenhave, Sec-retary-General of Foreign Affaire (who is an expert on tariffs), have arrived to see Sir John Simon and Mr. Runciman. It is understood they will review the present political and economic plight of Europe and may discuss the possibility of avoiding future British duties on Belgian products in return for a continuance of tho Belgians’ liberal attitude towards British exports. BELGIAN MINISTERS ARRIVE I IN LONDON. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 8, 12.30 p.m.) Rugby, Dec. 7. M. Paul Hymans, Belgian Foreign Minister, arrived in London last night with M. Van Lagenhove, SecretaryGeneral of the Department for Foreign Affairs. He will meet Sir John Simon to-day and Mr. Runciman on Tuesday.