THE ECONOMIC PROBLEM.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 12016, 19 March 1920, Page 8

THE ECONOMIC PROBLEM.

United Press Eleo trie Telegraph—Copyright. Received March 19, noon London, March 18 In the Commons, Mr Asquith said Government’s policy ought to start from the recogntiom of international economic independence, and be directed to promotion at the earliest possible moment of the wholQ industrial machinery of civilisation, with every reasonable facility which the Allied associated Powers could give. That was the first and most essential step towards restoration of normal prices. -He emphasised the necessity of reduction of the floating debt, and criticised the growth of the Civil Service estimates. He urged that » a World EconomuTOonference should be convened as speedily as possible by the League of Nations, and dwelt on the fact that there were still at least two million men under arms in Central Europe and Eastern Europe ■ He hoped that the Allies would urge the new States in Eastern Europe to live peaceably with one another, and not establish new economic and other barriers between themselves and their neighbours. They should , disband their forces aad become one great economic unity. If this was done it would bean important factor in the solution of the economic problem. He warmly welcomed a League of Nations inquiry into the conditions in Russia, and emphasised the need for restoration of economic relations with Russia and the fullest possible interchange of the groat resources of Russia. So long as Britons preserve 1 their capacity for hard honest work, so long as a free place was given to initiative and enterprise, an Open market maintained and rigorous sleepless economy was observed he had no fear whatever for the industrial and economic future of Britain.