DIVERGENT VIEWS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 269, 28 October 1932, Page 9

DIVERGENT VIEWS

EDITOR AND PRIME MINISTER. ECONOMIC PROBLEMS. British Official Wireless Service. Bugby, October 26. Sir Walter Layton has written the Prime Minister resigning from the Parliamentary committee of the World Economic Conference. Sir Walter’s letter explains that in a recent interview with Mr Neville Chamberlain ho found that some views of the Government and those of his own were so different that he could not fully represent it on the committee. He found that the Government believed that reasonable freedom of trade could be restored through international negotiations with foreign countries within the limits of the Ottawa agreements and subject to strict insistence on most favoured nation rights. In Sir Walter’s opinion that would have little effect, on the protectionist system of the world. What was wanted was that Britain, whose attitude would be almost the decisive factor, should press for plans on much bolder and broader lines in co-operation with the low tariff countries and those to whom restoration of foreign trade was all important. The Prime Minister wrote regretting Sir Walter Layton’s resignation, saying that ho had hoped for Sir Walter’s assistance as his known divergent aims, so far from hindering the Government, really have helped them. Sir Waitehad misinterpreted the Government’s attitude.

“The main difference between us.” aid Mr MacDonald, ‘‘is our varying estimates of securing progress on the lines you favour, which depends on the policy of other countries as well as our own.” He expressed the hope for Sir Walter Layton’s assistance as the conference develops on any points on which he has well-considered views.