FRIENDLY RELATIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22102, 4 November 1933, Page 15

FRIENDLY RELATIONS

AUSTRALIA |ND JAPAN CLEARING THE AHL (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, October 26., 1 Indications of the desire of; the Commonwealth to preserve the friendly relations which exist between Japan and Australia, were given this week by the publication of messages which have passed between the two countries in regard to proposed tariff changes.lt is pointed out that the Common wealth Government has shown ' its friendliness by declining to accept a recommendation of the Tariff Board in regard to exchange. Had that recommendation been adopted it would have increased automatically the duty on all goods imported from Japan. The effect of the Government’s decision was that there would be no increase of duties on such goods as Japanese silks which did not compete with Australian products. Any particular goods imported from Japan which overe likely to affect Australian manuHjpmring industries, such as sand shoes and gum boots, were subject to special inquiry by the Tariff Board before any action is taken. ‘ Judging by the cable messages the Australian attitude appears to have been misunderstood in Japan, and it was because of that the Ministry took action. The Minister of Customs (Mr White) Recently received the following cable message from the president of the Japan Woollen Manufacturers’ Association at Osaka:—“Your Customs revision proposal, especially that relating to the exchange special additional duty is a matter of deep’ regret to us. In the interests of the friendly relations between Australia and Japan we venture to solicit your good offices to, the end that no such measure shall be taken as is calculated to be injurious to the trade between the two countries.” =•■

In replying on behalf of the Australian Government Mr White emphasised the desire that friendly relations between both countries should be fostered, and he regretted that the Australian policy in a matj-er of tariffs had been misunderstood in Japan. The Government had been moved by considerations mentioned in the telegram from Osaka and had not applied to Japanese goods, the recommendations of the Tariff Board. Instead the Government proposed that each item of non-British goods of a kind manufactured in Australia, should be the subject of a public inquiry by the Tariff Board at which all interested parties should give evidence. "He sincerely hoped that he had shown that the Woollen Association had sent its cable under a misapprehension of the material facts. Several Federal Ministers have been at great pains during the last week or so to emphasise the friendly feeling which Australia has for Japan, and it is felt that the Government must have received representations other than those which came from the Woollen Association at Osaka. Maybe the Japanese Government has joined with Japanese manufacturers in forwarding protests to the Australian Government.