STARTLING SPEECH

Northern Advocate, 19 May 1934, Page 9

STARTLING SPEECH

EMPIRE’S FUTURE BRITISH POLICY CHAOTIC WHAT AUSTRALIA cln DO. UNRESTRICTED TRADE DEMAND. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received 9 a .in.) • SYDNEY, May IS.

In the course of a speech which lias startled political circles, Dr Earle Page, addressing the 'Grafton Chamber of Commerce, expressed the Belief that Australia could determine Empire policy by ah emphatic declaration followed hv immediate substantial action.

Ruck a declaration of Empire policy by Australia might stimulate Britain’s sense of Empire leadership and cause her to turn her buck on the fatal doctiine of self-sufficiency in which the nations of Europe were floundering. Dr Page-went on to say that British policy today was chaotic.. .If Australia became panic-atiekcn and accepted-the, view that Britain had abandoned her traditional policy and sought to replace her British goods by foreign, the people of Australia would force disintogratioa' of the Empire. Britain was in a state of indecision, but it was not. too late to' mould her policy.

“A little England, reacting-to every European policy of tariff madness, is no use to Australia or to the. .Dominions,” said Dr Page, “but a Greater Britain will give a vista of. hope, not only to us, but to the world.” In conclusion, Dr Page insisted that there must be unrestricted entry cf Dominion goods into Britain.