Dominions Mot Told Of Egyptian Agreement

Northern Advocate, 8 January 1948, Page 3

Dominions Mot Told Of Egyptian Agreement

LONDON, Wed. (10 a.m.) Despite the establishment, at Britain’s suggestion in November, of a Commonwealth statistical committee to review the daily drain on the Empire’s dollars, New Zealand and Australia knew nothing about the Anglo-Egyptian financial settlement, on January 5 until the news was available to the public, says the Australian Associated Press correspondent. The agreement, under which Britain is to sell £6,250.000 worth of dollars and £1,000,000 worth of gold to Egypt for sterling, has aroused concern in Australian official circles in London.

They regard it as an example of the failure of the Commonwealth consultative machinery and an indication of failure to recognise that Commonwealth economy, during critical times, should be regarded as a whole. The correspondent learns that the Australian High Commissioner (Mr Beasley) today contacted the Dominions Office, asked why the Dominions had not been consulted, and suggested that relations must be improved.