COMMERCIAL CONFERENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16668, 13 April 1916, Page 5

COMMERCIAL CONFERENCE

QUESTION IN THE LORDS. LORD BRYCE ADVISES CAUTION. LONDON, April 11. In the House of Lords Lord Courtney asked what instructions ,had been given to the British, representatives at the Paris Conference. Nothing, he said, could more stimulate any German whose support of the war was wavering than the suggestion that the war on the battlefields would be followed by a war of markets, involving the undermining and the destruction of the German, power of recovering its industry and commerce. Instead, they should seek the re-establishment of European peace" on a partnership basis, and the recognition of equal rights. Otherwise the conference was an attempt to pursue in another field after the war a similar antagonism to the German people, their trade, commerce, and prosperity. Lord.Bryce thought it desirable that the greatest possible caution and prudence should' be exercised by the Government. He did not misunderstand the desire for permanent hostility towards Germany. The .Allies had received the strongest provocation, but it would be unwise to allow passion to dethrone reason. "Is not all this discussion," he asked, "of after wartrade relations too previous?" We were trying before the war was over to settle questions which could only arise at the end the war. It was impossible to foresee what commercial conditions would then be prevailing. If we. attempted to formulate them now they would not have the certainty that they would be workable conditions. He urged that Britain should not be committed to anything in a secret conference without full knowledge and the fullest discussion of every proposition. (Received April 12, at 9.10 p.m.) Lord Bryce said he hoped the Government would do nothing to in any way affect the absolute freedom people of Great Britain to determine 1 their own fiscal policy. \