Germany Wants Trade With British Dominions

Northern Advocate, 17 March 1939, Page 7

Germany Wants Trade With British Dominions

(Received 2.0 p.m.) LONDON, March 16. “Political considerations, rather than strictly economic difficulties, are at present preventing an extension of Australian and New Zealand trade with Germany,” declared Dr. Otto Rieck, secretary of the British Dominions’ section of the Ministry of Economics, in a special interview with the Australian Associated Press. “This political approach to the question must be altered before a freer exchange of goods can be hoped for. Germany is most ready and anxious to build up exports, implying a corresponding increase of purchases from Australia and New Zealand. Governed by Sentiment. “We fully appreciate the nature of the Australian and New Zealand economic ties with Britain, and the necessity for them to maintain London balances in order to service debts, but we feel there is a potential residue of trade over and above the existing volume which Australia and New Zealand could justifiably divert to Germany. \ “It seems that much of the Australian and New Zealand trade with Britain is governed by sentiment. “We believe that Britain would not object if the Dominions looked further afield, and gave Germany a share of their increasing production. “There is no reason why this should vitally cut across Britain’s interests, and it would greatly benefit the Dominions. “It should be emphasised that Germany lacked foreign exchange, for which at present she is forced to resort to . payment similar to that in the Germany-New Zealand treaty.