OTTAWA OUTCOME

Northern Advocate, 27 October 1932, Page 5

OTTAWA OUTCOME

SURPRISE PREFERENCES EXTENSION TO FREE STATE, DOMINIONS WILL KEEP FAITH". UNWO RTHY INSTNUATTONS. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received 9 a.m.) LONDON, October 20. The Ottawa Agreements Bill, now before the House of Commons, provides that the Irish Free State .shall continue to enjoy preferences, both under the old duties and the new Ottawa duties, as long as the British special duties on Irish goods for the recovery of moneys due remain in force.

Political writers indicate that as no agreement was made with the Free State at Ottawa, many people believed there would be no preference for Irish goods after the expiry date, November 15.

“The Times,” in an editorial article, emphasises the fact that, in spite of criticism, there >s general agreement that, the Ottawa pacts make possible the arrest of the tendency towards economic nationalism and high tariffs, and the establishment. of the opposite trend. The article continues: “Ottawa is an illuminating accompaniment to the criticism of English free traders who endeavour to insinuate that the dominions have no intention of maintaining good faith. This insinuation only discredits its makers.”

The commonsenso shown by Australia and New Zealand in accepting equitable reciprocity is eulogised by the writer.

AGREEMENT WITH CANADA,

LORD READING’S STATEMENT,

(Received 9 a.m.) MONTREAL, October 25,

“The future attitude in Britain towards the Ottawa trade agreement depends to'a great extent upon the operation of the Canadian Tariff Board," said the Marquess of Reading, who passed through Montreal today. He is on. the way to Ottawa to discuss this and allied subjects with the Prime Minister, Mr R. B. Bennett.

WORLD RECOVERY.

A POWERFUL CONTRIBUTION

(British Official Wireless.) (Received 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, October 20,

Referring to the argument adduced during the debate on the Ottawa Conference that the tariff agreements thorn readied between the nations of the British Empire might impede the inclusion of more general agreements for the restoration of world trade, “The Times” says: “Tim commonsense view is that nothing would ever be done to revive trade if it is to wait upon worldwide agreement. “A beginning had to be made, and no better beginning could be made than between the members of the British Commonwealth. They cannot, even if they would, be exclusive corporations, but a solid quarter of the population of the world can make a powerful contribution to recovery of the world.”

IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS,

THE AGREEMENTS FAVOURED

(Received 1 p.m.) LONDON, October 20,

In the House of Lords, attention was drawn to the Ottawa. Conference by Lord Arnold, who described the conference as a supreme failure owing to Canada’s refusal to agree to the progressive liberation of trade wthin the Empire. A complete breakdown was only avoided by Britain accepting incredibly unfair, lopsided provisions. Viscount Elibanlc said Lord Arnold had failed to awake to the new era. “Ereotrade as wo know it is fortunately dead. Future issues only concern high and low tariffs and preferences.” Lord Beaverbrook said there were no sacrifices about the Ottawa agreements, -which would benefit both Britain and the dominion peoples. He regretted that the agreements did not go further in the direction of freetrade within the Empire, an ideal which he was sure would ultimately be realised. Ho strongly favoured a duty on foreign meat.

Viscount Hail si i a in, replying, said that Ottawa did not linild an edifice, but merely laid foundations which would result in better trade, within the Empire.

OTTAWA PACTS BILL.

SECOND READING DEBATE

STRONG 'STATEMENTS

(British Official Wireless.) (Received 12.20 p.m.) RUGBY, October 2fi.

Moving the second reading of the Ottawa, Agreements Bill in the. House of Commons, Mr J. H. Thomas, Dominions Secretary, said that, the Opposition argument that nothing was done by the agreements to ease the unemployment situation was answered in the steel industry indirectly and in the coal trade directly.