TRADE TREATY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22949, 29 January 1938, Page 14

TRADE TREATY

AMERICA-AUSTRALIA IMPROVED SITUATION MUTUAL CONCESSIONS NEGOTIATIONS POSSIBLE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received January 28, 7.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, Jan. 27 The Washington correspondent of the United Press says it is understood that the United States will remove Australia from the "black list" of nations to be deprived of tariff concessions as from February 1. This is a result of Australia's removal of discriminations against the United States. The Australian Associated Press states that in an interview at Washington Mi*. Keith Officer, Australian Counsellor at the British Embassy, said: "Wo are now negotiating with, and summing up the points of view of all the parties -vvho participated in the negotiations for a restoration of the most-favoured-nation privileges to Australia." Ho pointed out that the State Department rigidly declined to enter into any trade treaty negotiations with nations on the "black list," but the decks were now cleared and discussions were possible on the subject of a pact between Australia and America.

Wliila a pact was realistically envisaged, much difficult negotiation still separated tho two cotintrios from the desired reciprocal expansion of trade. There was considerable hope that much that was worth while could now bo achieved. *

"It is now simply a question of experts exchanging data on exactly what products there can bo concessions to each other," said Mr. Officer. He paid a high tribute to officials of the State Department for their splendid attitude of full co-operation in securing the restoration of the most-favoured-nation clause. They were exceptionally willing to meet Australia half-way and tlio negotiations had been most pleasant throughout. OTTAWA AGREEMENTS CONFERENCE PROPOSALS NO INTIMATION RECEIVED STATEMENT BY MR. SAVAGE [BY TELEGRAPH —rRKSS association] WELLINGTON, Friday The New Zealand Government has had no intimation at all of any conference being called in London to discuss a revision of tho Ottawa Agreements along tho lines mentioned in a cablegram from Australia published to-day. This was made clear by the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, in an interview this evening, and it appears that as far as New Zealand is concorned mystery surrounds the entire proposal. Frequent references to such a conference have been made in the Australian press during the past few weeks and yesterday's cable message went so far as to announce tho personnel of tho Australian delegation. It was also stated that several officers of the Commonwealth Government would leave for Washington to make preliminary arrangements lor a commercial agreement with the United States. "We can only repeat tho statement I made when tho matter was brought to my notice on a previous occasion, and say that tho New Zealand Government has had no intimation at all of any conference of this sort," said the Prime Minister when tho cable message from Australia was referred to him. "Wo have received uo invitation to any such conference nor have we any knowledge of a meeting in London of the character suggested in the cable news from Australia." "The authorities in London know the views of the New Zealand Government on the likely effects on New Zealand trade of a trade agreement between tho United Kingdom and tho United States of America," added Mr. Savage. "When the Minister ot Marketing, the Hon. W. Nash, and myself were in London last year the question of trade was discussed with .tho Imperial authorities from every point of view and tho British Government is fully acquainted with our ideas 011 the subject. Mr. Nash also visited Canada and America to discuss trade questions with the people in those countries on his way back to the Dominion from Great Britain."