ECONOMIC CONFERENCE

Otago Witness, Issue 3249, 21 June 1916, Page 26

ECONOMIC CONFERENCE

PARIS, June 14. Sixty delegates of the allied Powers meet in secret at 10 o'clock this morning at the Quai d'Orsay, under M. Briand's presidency. After the early sittings members will break into committees to draft reports upon special questions which will t>e submitted to the whole conference. PARIS, June 13. Mr W. M. Hughes, in an interview

granted to Le Matin, was questioned concerning some pessimists' prediction that within a decade German trade would he as flourishing as ever. He replied indignantly that those entertaining such a thought were traitors, and added : " Whatever our business transactions with Germany, they will be those we desire, not those which Germany imposes. Her pre-war activity consisted not only in sending us products, but especially greatly disorganising our national industries and largely seizing control of others. She acted as a vampire, and it behoves us to break down her tyranny for ever."

M. BRIAND'S ADDRESS. AT THE FOREIGN MINISTRY. PARIS, June .-4. The Economic Conference met at the office of the Foreign Ministry. M. Briand outlined the objects of the conference. Delegates and Ambassadors lunched at the Palais O'Grsay. The conference resumed business in the afternoon. M. Briand, addressing the Economic Conference, said it would not be sufficient for the Allies to conquer in the war by military success.' Their diplomatic union should guarantee the intense development of our material resources and the exchange of the products of the allied countries and their distribution to the world's markets. The war was forced upon us, and we should not only consecrate ourselves to the restoration of right and the triumph of liberty and justice, but demonstrate to the allied nations that peacefid tasks could only be resumed and carried on with success if inspired with ideas of solidarity and common defence, guaranteeing us against a return of our pa.it errors, of which the enemy had taken advantage. In our commerciel enterprises there must be no conflicting interests, but one united firm determination to meet any danger to the general welfare, if the facts clenrly showed them to be such. Past errors had nearly allowed the enemy to exert an irreparable tyranny over the productive forces of the world. Those errors must be resolutely abandoned and better methods adopted. We must after the war so arrange our internal affairs that a secure economic alliance should secure the

realisation of our arms. M. Briand continued; "The war has shown the economic slavery that the enemy intended for us. The evil was already great. The enemy nearly succeeded, but our immense sacrifices -will not he in vain if we now restore healthy commercial relations by the full co-opera-tion of the Allies, and ensure the economic liberation of the world. In order to accomplish this, we ought resolutely to open fresh paths. By unification and co-ordina-tion of our actions we may strike a blow at the vitals of the enemy's industrial activity. It is also necessary to achieve the economic restoration of- the countries which are the victims of hostile occupation. The Allies, acting together, will have to enact exceptional measures for their defence and protection, and for compensation from tho vanquished enemy.

We must internally organise our -economic alliance against a common danger." i A PARIS CORRESPONDENT'S PREDICTIONS. LONDON, June 14. | The Times correspondent at Paris de- ! scribes the Economic Conference as one for the education of the allied Governments in the economic meaning of the Mar, which must help to win the war. He foreshadows measures for indemnifying victims at the enemy's expense and repairing the havoc wrought; the building up of a solid economic defence against Germany; the framing of an economic counterpart of the London Pact of September, 1914. The conference must agree that the Allies shall have a first claim upon each other's economic resources in natural produce, rnetals, capital, and transport. ! MR HUGHES'S INFLUENCE. LONDON, June 16. ; The Daily Mail's Paris correspondent writes : " Owing to the rigorous censorship it is impossible to publish reports of , the proceedings at the Economic Confer- ! ence. I may say that Mr Hughes has j already made himself felt. His policy of I a stricter blockade, to put a stranglehold : on Germany, undoubtedly commends itself to the French members of the conference." DELEGATES PLEASED.' PARIS, June 17. The Petit Journal interviewed M. Pokowssi, the Russian delegate, who stated that the conference was most satisfactory, there being complete unanimity on all questions. Sir George Foster, the Canadian delegate, states that when the results are known it will be seen that the Alies have displayed a spirit of loyalty and confidence. The delegates laboured zealously to achieve a common aim and make impossible an economic conquest or commercial activity by the Central Powers either in Europe or other parts of the world. The result would greatly and favourably influence the conduct of the war on land and sea, and would result in a guarantee against any surprise defeat in the economic or commercial domain which would otherwise seem to threaten us. The Petit Pavisien says that the Allies' common policy aims at a threefold result: First, to render absolute the policy already formulated for the total prohibition of trade between the subjects of the Allies and the enemy: secondly, to provide for the industrial restoration of the regions which have suffered by the war; and, thirdly, to transform radically the system of commercial treaties existing before the war. The conference adopted measures to avert possible dangers during the period between the cessation of hostilities and the signing of peace, intended to preserve the Allies' markets from invasion by merchandise which is lying in enormous quantities in warehouses in the Central Empires.

I ECONOMIC CONFERENCE CLOSED. | " GENEROUS FRUIT " PROMISED. PARIS, June 18. Tho Economic Conference has closed, and the resolutions, which were Unanimously adopted, will be published simultaneously in the allied countries on June 21. M. Broqueville, in his closing speech, said tho Allies' collaboration marked the opening of an era of which the nations now suffering would gather generous fruit. The confe- "mce had prepared a defensive coalition for peace time against the evil

genius which organised force in the service of crime. The heads of various delegations spoke similarly. President Poincare received delegates at the Elysee. VIEWS OF REPRESENTATIVE MEN. PARIS, June 18. The Petit Parisien has interviewed several delegates to the Economic Conference. M. Pokaowski, Russian delegate, said that the Allies' economic union would make neutrals understand that their .interest and security bade them repudiate any possible alliance with Teutonic nations. Earl Crewe said : " The measures decided upon will receive the approbation of Allies and neutrals. Our enemies will understand that the Allies, by the cooperation of all their resources, have certainly annihilated' Germany's dream of economic hegemony." Mr Sakatani, the Japanese delegate, declared that the Allies' joint effort tended to realise the ideal of peace and true civilisation. The conference had already constituted a moral victory for the Allies. M. Manikutich, the Serbian delegate, said that the discussions at the conference convinced him that the Allies were prepared*% go far beyond their present decision, if necessary, in order to demonstrate to their enemies that prolongation of the Avar would be more disastrous for them. CANADA MOVING. LONDON, June 18. Canadian Trade Commissioners are visiting Britain, France, and Italy, and are scientifically organising trade with our allies, with the object of severing trade relationships with Austria and Germany.