THURSDAY. JUNE 16, 1932 PROSPECTS AT OTTAWA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 16 June 1932, Page 6

THURSDAY. JUNE 16, 1932 PROSPECTS AT OTTAWA

AIR BALDWIN and the British delegation are expected to start for Ottawa, on or about 13th July next. Up to the present time, though individually they laive expressed tiie.ir hope that the Conference will he a success, they have not issued, so far as we are aware, any detailed policy which they propose to place before the Conference. 'The Federation of British Industries, however, has issued a Report which, it is expected, will carry weight with the British Government, if it is not adopted as the basis of that Government\s policy at Ottawa. This Report emphasises the need there will be. for (lie Dominions and Great Britain to view the work of the Conference from an Imperial, rather than from a national, point of view, and lor each and all of them to decide what a'dvan-

Cages they Vave to offer, with a view to increasing trade within the Empire, and it. goes on to say: It is obvious . . . that, if Empire trade is to be based upon the principle of mutual trade, the continuance and development of such advantages in the market of the United Kingdom must depend upon the adoption of a similar policy by individual Dominions overseas. This hint that perhaps Great Britain may be offering something substantial and receiving little or nothing in return, is constantly recurring in expressions emanating fijoin individuals and the press in England. For instance, the London “Times” recently said in a leading article : This problem—how at the same time to avoid bargaining and to secure at any rate a rough equity in the exchange of advantages —is one of the thorniest of the many which tho Conference will have to solve. It would seem as if the writer who penned that paragraph imagined that it is incumbent upon the Dominions to make, at Ottawa, some substantial return for the preferences granted to them by the recently-framed British tariff; whereas substantial preferences to goods imported from Britain will have been in existence in New Zealand and other Dominions for years past. Indeed, in the case of this country it has long been a principle that the importation of British goods should he encouraged in every possible way, provided that budding local industries bo protected. That proviso, however, is agreeable to the London daily, which lays down three basic principles for the guidance of delegates to Ottawa, namoly: (1) Tho unfettered freedom of every nation of the Empiro to promote its own domestic development. (21 The unsoundness of fostering uneconomic industries.

(3) Thq ultimate importance of agriculture to every part of the Empire. Recently we referred, in this column, to the scope which exists for increasing the Dominions’ trade with Great Britain, and Great Britain’s trade with tho Dominions, by purchasing within the Empire goods and raw materials which at present are purchased outside its limits, and in reference to this point the Federation of British Industries’ Report says: If they (the nations of the Empire) determine to adopt strictly nationalistic economic policies they will further restrict their own trade and international trade as well. If they combine to facilitate trade within the Empire, they will create a vast unit of world trade for their own benefit.

If the delegates go wrong at Ottawa, it will not be through lack of advice. The problem which will bo presented to each and all of them would seem to resolve itself into this: How can each Dominion, Crown Colony, and Dependency develop its own interests at Ottawa, and simultaneously benefit other nations which are component parts of the Empire? It seems quite certain that Great Britain, who, because of her great market, has most to give, will require in return advantages commensurate with thoso which she offers. Her principal delegates have repudiated the bargaining spirit, and doubtless they will be generously disposed, but in return they will expect the delegates of the Dominions to extend to Great Britain every possible advantage which they can offer without detriment to their individual countries. If negotiations are conducted in that spirit, the work of the Conference will be successful. We believe that is the sp|rit in which it will be conducted, and that though the gathering will be strictly a business-meeting,'the Imperial sentiment will permeate all discussions, and assist in crowning the delegates’ labours with success.