CRITICAL STAGE

Southland Times, Issue 21219, 21 October 1930, Page 7

CRITICAL STAGE

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

BRITISH DELEGATION NON-COMMITTAL

INTERNAL DISSENSIONS (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec. 11.15 p.m.) ’ London, October 20. The Times expresses the opinion that the Imperial Conference is in a critical state. “The discussions upon the reports of the special committee can only have a useful result if the delegations take a clear view of the needs of the Empire as a whole,” it states. “The British Government must take a leading part, but so far it has made no attempt to give any sort of a lead. The British delegation has maintained a rigidly non-committal attitude, which is plainly due to the paralysing effect of internal dissensions. The responsibility will be heavy upon the Government if it allows the opportunity to escape for laying the foundations of a bold far-reaching plan of Empire development.” TKADE PREFERENCE BRITAIN AND DOMINIONS. MR GRAHAM’S SCHEME. (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) London, October 19. Behind the scenes in the Imperial Conference, the President of the Board of Trade, Mr William Graham, is fighting for a scheme of Empire trade preference which he believes will set Britain on the road to prosperity, while Mr Snowden has decided to sacrifice some of his free trade principles. The basis of Mr Graham’s scheme is that Britain should enter into a treaty to buy each year a fixed quantity of Australian meat and timber, Canadian wheat, New Zealand mutton and South African fruit, the dominions in return to buy British coal, steel, motor cars and textiles. Linked up in the agreement will be a provision for credits to finance this big exchange.