THE CONFERENCES

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11650, 15 October 1923, Page 8

THE CONFERENCES

DOMINIONS SUPPORT LEAGUE OF NATIONS “MAKE IT AS GREAT AS POSSIBLE" AMERICA ALARMED AT PREFERENCE PROPOSALS FOREIGH PRODUCTS WILL BE TURNED AWAY Publication of extracts from the speeches of the donrion Premiers at the Imperial Conference show that they gave general support to the League of Nations. “If the League goes,” declared Mr Bruce, "there will be no hope of establishing anything of the sort until we have been through another world tragedy a hundredfold worse than the present generation has seen.” Meanwhile, Mr Bruce’s economic j|roposals continue to excite comment. American newspapers voice the alarm felt by their producers at the possibility of the British Empire closing its doors against foreign goods.

WORLD’S ONLY HOPE

LEAGUE MUST BE HELVED. SUPPORT OF DOMINIONS. Reuter's Telegram. (.Received October 14. 5.5 p.m. LONDON, October 13. Tib general support by the dominion Premiere of the League of Nations is shown from their speeches at the Imperial Conference, which have now been issued. They are mainly expressions of sympathy with the League’s objects, and appreciation of Lord Robert Cecil’s endeavours. Lord Cecil reviewed the work of the League, and claimed it had achieved an immense amount of most valuable international co-operation with very great' success, at wonderfully little expense. ITALO-GREEK DISPUTE. Dealing with the Italo-Greek depute, Lord Cecil contended that the League had carried out its duty of promoting a settlement. Its suggestions for a settlement were veTy valuable, and quite sound, but as Italy and Greece had agreed to settle tlie dispute otherwise than bv resort to the Council, it was the duty of the Council to do everything it could to facilitate a settlement by these means. The British Empire’s foreign policy was to keep the peace, and the League was an instrument of that purpose lmconrparaily more effective than anything before in existence. “We ought to do our utmost to strengthen the League and make it more the cornerstone of our policy.” TO SAVE NEW TRAGEDY. Mr- Stanley Bruce said Australia was behind the 'League, and would take any action it oould to promote the League’s authority and make it as great as possible. “If the League goes,” he declared, “there will be no ope of establishing anything of the sort until we have been through another world tragedy a hundredfold worse than the present generation has seen.” Mr W. F. Massey thought too much bad been expected from the League. He had never thought the League ■would prevent war. It was initiated to promote peace, by arbitration, conciliation, and public opinion. He believed the League had done a grout deal of good. “REACTION TO BRIGANDAGE.” General Smuts said ho was informed that the moral stock of the British Empire was very high in Geneva, where the most remarkable thing was the confidence, faith, and reliance which the representatives of all the small peoples of the world manifested in the British Empire’s stand for justice, fair play, and international honesty. Ho strongly urged the Empire Governments to keep' their hands clean, support the League, and support smaller Powers where their interests ciashcd with those of larger Powers. The League ideal seemed the only hope o! the world against unrest, and the break-up of Europe. Therefore, if there was any practical force likely to keep the nations together, and to offer protection against the complete reaction to brigandage which seemed now to be setting in, Jet them exploit it fully.

STORY OF INTRIGUE

LORD CUKZON NOT SATISFIED. BEHAVIOUR OF ALLIES. iMtraliftn and N.Z. Cable Association. October 14, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. October 13. The “DniJv TelegraphV’ diplomatic ccrrospondent says: “There ie the poasibility of a further discussion by the Imperial Conference over the Janina and Corfu incidents, when a formal i evolution relating to the League of Nations may be passed. Lord Curzon, in his recent speech, gave an unvarnished account of the intrigues leadin'; up and subsequent to these incidents.

“I gather that Lord Curzon suggested he was far from satisfied with the course pursued by the Allies during certain phases of the negotiations. “Mr Mackenzie King, who appeared at first to adopt a somewhat aloof policy towards European problems, now feel#* as strongly as his colleagues about the League’s work, and the chief foreign issues before Conference.”

TRADE PREFERENCES

WILL BRITAIN GIVE MORE? MR MASSEY NOT HOPEFUL. \urtralian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received October 14, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, October 12. Mr Bruce declined to comment on an apparently inspired newspaper paragraph that the Dominion representatives a.***unied that beyond minor adjuatments there was no hope of Britain extending preference, or that she would deal with other commodities than those already agreed upon. Mr Masscv expressed himself on the aarne point a«s not over-sanguine that preference on other products would be conceded.

“SUICIDAL POLICY” MR ASQUITH’S DENUNCIATION. Australian and N.Z. Cable Aesociatitm. (Received October 15, 12.10 a.m.) LONDON, October 13. Mr H. H. Asquith, addressing a demonstration at Perth under the auspices of the Scottish Liberal Federation, taunted the Government about Imperial preference. “He warned his hearers not to treat the matter too lightly, because they would soon see it was not merely a question of currant buns and raisin puddings. This policy would be an act of industrial suicide for Britain. “It is a shallow fallacy to suppose that Imperial trade is only possible of development by fiscal tinkering,” he said.

“ NOT A BAD THING "

FREE EXPRESSION OF VIEW’S. MR BRUCE NOT ALARMED. Australisn and N.Z. Cable Association (Received October 14, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, October 12. Mr Bruce, in an interview, said in reply to the suggestion that he had raised a hornet’s nest in free trade in England, that he supposed he had, but that could not be helped. Perhaps it was not a bad tiling that there should be a stirring np. The very essence of the Conference was that delegates should freely express their sentiments in regard to matters of Empire interest.

AMERICA ALARMED

NEW BRITISH TENDENCY. SERIOUS FOR EXPORTERS. Reuter’s Telegram. NEW YORK, October 12. Commercial circles in the United States are most interested in the discussions at the Imperial Conference, especially on the question of preference. The “New York World,” commenting on Mr Bruce’s proposal of what it describes as a closed market for the British Empire against foodstuffs and raw materials from other countries, emphasises the importance to the United States of the fact that the British Government stands oommitted to a broadening policy of tariff preferences and British markets for the dominions’ products. The significance of the step, it says, will be fully recognised, but not with complacency, by the wheat, l>eet, and tobacco-growing regions of America.

TARIFF WAR UNWISE

NEITHER CAN AFFORD IT. Australian and N Z. Cable Association (Received October 15, 12.10 a.m.) NEW YORK, October 13. In the “Journal of Commerce” an editorial bv “L’Adair” says that “there is already abundant indication that Imperial Preference will not be universally acceptable to the various varied interests existing within tlie Empire. “It may not be the disposition of British LaiJmur at this particular moment to make an outcry about the establishment of preferences,” he says, “but Labour is not likely to remain silent long if the cost of living goes up.” The newspaper apologises, in view of the high American tariff, for quarrelling with other nations’ tariffs, but states that trade relationships between Groat Britain and the United States are of no small significance to the latter country, and concludes “neither Britain nor the United States can well afford warfare of the kind which now threatens. Preference may help tlie dominions slightly, if at all, hut the case calls for a broader typo of statesmanship than is lieing given it.”