AIMS IN TRADE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19336, 28 May 1937, Page 5

AIMS IN TRADE

EASING BARRIERS AMERICA AND EMPIRE IMPORTANCE OF CONTACT VIEWS OF DOMINIONS OTTAWA PRINCIPLES (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Rccd. May 28. noon.) LONDON. May 27.

The trade talks between England and America having passed beyond the stage of bilateral trade discussions, no real progress can now be made until the Dominion Governments are consulted. Accordingly considerable importance attaches to the commencement of today’s survey of tho economic situation by the heads of delegations to the Imperial Conference. The Australian Treasurer, Mr. R. G. Casey, during several informal conversations with Mr. Norman Davis, American Ambassador at large, who intimated that America thought Australia could■ modify the Ottawa agreement, explained the Commonwealth viewpoint very plainly. Nevertheless, in emphasising the difficulties confronting Australia, lie pointed out that under the Ottawa agreement the commodities in which Australia was mainly concerned were meat, dairy products, and dried fruits, Imperial preference on which was vital to Australia. America would have to recipro cate in this connection before Australia could seriously negotiate a treaty with America. Initiative Approved The Dominions fully approve of the principle of the initiative being taken by Britain and America towards a lowering of tariff barriers, and simultaneously they appreciate the importance of the closest Empire and American relations to the international situation. Nevertheless, they realise that difficulties exist that cannot be easily overcome. The Times, commenting on the desire of the United States for modification of the Ottawa agreement, says: “It remains to be seen whether it is possible or desirable to consider the Empire as a unit for the purpose of talks to agree to mutual concessions with the aim of a liberation of the flow of American trade with the Empire. British financial circles generally agree that an Anglo-American agreement is in every way desirable, the psychological effects of which far outweigh the possible economic consequences.” Bilateral Conversations It was decided at, the Imperial Conference to-day that all matters arising from the Ottawa agreement will not he discussed at the conference, hut will ho subject to bilateral conversations. The Australian Associated Press’ political correspondent learns that it was also decided that there would he no immediate English and Australian discussions concerning a revision of the Ottawa agreement. The talks between England and Now Zealand which were commenced months ago by Mr. W. Nash are continuing with Britain, while the England-South Africa conversations to revise their Ottawa agreement commence in a few days. A new agreement between England and Canada was recently concluded. Thus the Ottawa agreement virtually disappears from the Imperial Conference. Developments Traced A decision regarding the Ottawa agreement was reached when tho heads of the delegations held their first meeting in connection with the economic questions, Mr. Stanley Baldwin presiding for the last time. He is being automatically succeeded by Mr. Neville Chamberlain when lie assumes the Prime Ministership tomorrow.

The conference first decided to include representatives of Southern Rhodesia and Burma on Sir Thomas Inskip’s war materials supply committee. It then commenced a general review of Empire trade. Mr. Walter Kunciman, Die president of the Board of Trade, in. a very comprehensive statement, traced tile developments of inter-Imperial trade since the Ottawa conference, and dealt with Britain’s various foreign trade treaties. Mr. Runeiman also outlined America’s desire that, the Dominions should make sacrifices under Die Ottawa Agreement.

It is understood, however, that Die discussions between Britain and the Dominions regarding this matter will not immediately be initiated within the conference, but will he the subject, of informal talks between Britain and each of the Dominions.

EMPIRE RAW MATERIALS SUPPLY TO FOREIGNERS LONDON, May 20. An appeal to the Dominions to make their raw materials accessible to lorcign countries was made by the South African Minister of Commerce, Mr. A. P. J. Fourie, in an interview with the' Daily Telegraph. He gave a warning that the manufacture of synthetic materials and the search for substitutes were uneconomic.

It was better, he said, for the. Dominions to make clear that countries needing raw products could have them in exchange for trade. The only question was how best to achieve this exchange bv agreements between a European country and a particular Dominion, between the Empire and individual foreign countries, or through some economic arm of tlie League of Nations.' The voice of one Dominion might lie a small voice, but a plea from the whole Empire might yield definite results. “Within the limits of the oblige-; turns to ourselves (meaning Ottawa), the United Kingdom and the Dominions ought to reserve a substantial portion of their trade for foreign countries,’’ lie said.