IMPERIAL RELATIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18899, 27 June 1923, Page 7

IMPERIAL RELATIONS.

TRADE OF THE EMPIRE. MEED FOR DEVELOPMENT. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, June 25. (Received Jane 26, at 5.5 p.m.) An interim report of the Committee of the Federation ox British Industries, which was appointed at Government instigation, insists on the desirability of developing inter-imperial trade but deprecates the belief that the economic difficulties of Britan can be solved by r’apid and considerable development of trade with the dominions alone. Trade statistics show that it. is impossible thus to restore the trade which has been lost in other parts of the "world. The committee suggests a permanent organisation for working out the details of inter-imperial trade. The Empire should make itself a greater producer, and fiction should be taken to protect British manufacturers against countries with depreciated currencies whose standard of life renders cheaper production possible.— A. and N.Z. able. BRITISH FOREIGN POLICY. A CONFERENCE TOPIC. LONDON, June 25. Mr A. A. Ponsonby (Labour), in the House of Commons, asked whether the Government intended to submit to the Imperial Conference any proposals concerning Great Britain’s international relations and participation by the dominions in the control of her foreign policy. Mr Baldwin replied that the Government would welcome an opportunity for a personal discussion with Die dominion Prime Ministers on all international relations and the conduct of Britain’s foreign policy, but he desired to remind Mr Ponsonby that the Government was already in close touch with the dominion Governments on these matters. Mr W. G. Ormsby-Gore (Under-Secre-tary of State for the Colonial Office), in replying to a question, said that he had been invited to represent the colonies and protectorates, including all the smaller islands, at the Imperial and Economic Conferences. He did not propose that the mandated territories should bo separately represented. Ho would io his best to safeguard their markets.—A. and N.Z. Cable.