OTTAWA CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21233, 13 July 1932, Page 9

OTTAWA CONFERENCE.

BRITISH DELEGATION.

EVE OF DEPARTURE.

EMPIRE'S SHIP OF DESTINY,

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received July 12, 5.33 p.m.) LONDON, July 12.

The Empress of Britain, described as the " Empire's ship of destiny " lies at Southampton ready to depart to-morrow with the British delegation to the Ottawa Conference, which is to Tie opened on July 21.

The vessel will have seven Cabinet Ministers on board, also 80 secretaries, clerks and typists. A wireless telephone will keep the_ Ministers always in touch with Whitehall.

Tlie last full meeting of the Cabinet for many weeks will be held to-day. A direct wireless telephone service between Montreal and London has been opened in anticipation of the conference.

PROVISIONAL AGENDA.

ECONOMIC QUESTIONS

TARIFFS AND PREFERENCES. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Tueaday. The Prime Minister, Mr. G. W. Forbes, has been- advised by the Canadian Government that as a result of discussions which have been proceeding for several months past between the Governments of the Dominions and tho British Government, it has been agreed that economic questions of general importance to the different parts of the Empire might bo conveniently discussed at , the Ottawa Conference under the following general headings, which will constitute the provisional agenda:—(a) General trade questions—(l) Examination of the aspects of general trade and tariff policies and administration affecting Empire trade, including, inter alia, the following subjects : Recognition of tho principle of reciprocal tariff preferences within the Empire; a general application of the existing and future tariff preferences within the Empire; tho extension to other part 3 of the Empire of the tariff advantages accorded foreign countries; determination of the percentage of '-'Empire content" necessaiy to secure preferential tariff treatment; export bounties and an antidumping duty within the Empire. (2) Commercial treaty policy with respect to foreign countries including, inter alia, the relation of inter-Imperial preferences to concessions to foreign countries; an interpretation of (lie most-favoured-nation clause, particularly with reference to the development of regional preferences and of systems of import quotas.

(3) Consideration of an appropriate basis and means of affecting interImperial economic co-operation, including a review of existing agencies, an examination of the report of the Imperial Economic Committee on industrial cooperation, and a discussion of communications and of research and standardisation.

(b) Monetary and financial questions— Consideration of existing inter-relation-ships of the various currencies and monetary standards of the Empire and of the desirability and feasibility of taking steps to restore and stabilise the general price level, and to stabilise exchange. (c) The negotiation of trade agreements.

ME. BENNETT'S HOPE.

REAL ACHIEVEMENT.

NO CANADIAN SURPRISES. LONDON, July 7. As far as Canada is concerned, there will be no dramatic surprises for the Ottawa Conference, according to the Ottawa correspondent of the Times. There is anxiety to avoid an initial pronouncement likely to lead to disappointment.

All the energy, power and rapid action of the Prime Minister, Mr. R. B. Bennett, are being concentrated in final preparations, and no detail is too small for his attention. He considers that 10 days ought to show possibilities of real achievement, and that three or four weeks should see the main work completed. Opinion is crystallising in favour of the prompt adoption of general resolutions — for example, the largest possible measure of Imperial free trade in non-competitive products, followed by agreement to reduce tariffs wherever possible, without destroying or preventing development of established industries.

A letter signed by Earl Winterton, Sir Henry Page Croft and others, urges consideration of migration at the Ottawa Conference, with a view to distributing the Empire's white population apd developing its resources.