PURSUIT OF TRADE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 100, 28 March 1939, Page 7

PURSUIT OF TRADE

BRITAIN AND RUMANIA. MISSION TO PROCEED. THE GERMAN INFLUENCE. (United Press Association—By Electric I e legra pi i. —Copy right.) (British Official Wireless.) Received March 28, 1.5 p.m. RUGBY, March 27.

At the end of a very long answer in the House of Commons on the Rumanian-German trade agreement, Air Chamberlain said

that the extension of AngloRuinanian trade and the promotion of economic relations between the two countries was a matter to which Britain attached the greatest importance. He referred to the recent decision to send a commercial mission to Bucharest, and added: “Rumania is still anxious that the mission should proceed, and that, of course, is our intention.”

Of the agreement itself, Mr Chamberlain said that it was in the nature of a comprehensive programme, the precise effects of which, in practice, would depend mainly on the manner in which its provisions were carried out. In these circumstances, he declared, they must await developments be lore coming to any definite conclusions. Rumania had informed Britain that the negotiations had proceeded on normal lines, that the agreement contained no political clause, and that Rumania had not signed away her economic independence. As described to Britain by Rumania, the effect of the agreement in broad outline was to enable Rumania to dis)K)se to Germany of a great deal of her produce for which she was unable to find alternative markets, and to receive in return German assistance in the form of equipment and technical advice in the exploitation of her resources. It appeared that Germany would co-operate in the development of the existing industries in Rumania, and in the setting up of new ones, particularly in the fields of agriculture, forestry and mining. She would also assist in the construction of public utility concerns and communications, and finally she would supply Rumania with armaments.