COMMON VIEWS

Southland Times, Issue 22008, 6 May 1933, Page 5

COMMON VIEWS

BRITAIN AND AMERICA THE DISCUSSIONS AT WASHINGTON TARIFFS AND CURRENCY (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, May 4. The Prime Minister, Mr Ramsay MacDonald, made a statement in the House of Commons upon the gashington discussions. He said that on finding he, Mr Roosevelt and M. Herriot were in agreement with regard to the calling of the International Economic Conference, June 12 had been fixed for the meeting. He continued: We discussed in some detail the subjects to be brought before the conference, including questions of tariffs, quotas, exchange and the control and stability of international currency. A tariff truce during the sitting of the conference was also considered, and we shared the view that the representatives of the countries should enter the conference with their hands completely untied. In view of the controversy regarding a suggested tai if t truce, I felt it my duty to point out how different is the position of a country like our own from that Of those which are already high tariff countries with policies and economic defences already fully worked out and in operation. , “I took the opportunity of putting before the President a full account of the broad policy on disarmament, and we reached common views which have been reflected in the effective co-oper-ation of the British and American delegates at Geneva. We also discussed the question of duties, jind frankly examined all aspects of the problem, bringing out in well-defined detail all the differences which had to be reconciled, both in the final settlement and in the immediate handling of the question. While I welcomed the idea of a truce I made it plain that its application would have to be the subject of safeguards which these difficulties in our positions required. This was considered reasonable. I can make no fuller statement on this subject at present, as the matter has not yet reached the agreement stage. As for my visit as a whole I wish tz> convey no exaggerated impression, but I would say with confidence that the mutual understanding between ourselves and the American Government has, been materially improved. The Government s warmest thanks are due to the President for his friendly hospitality and unreserved helpfulness throughout our deliberations.” , The, Washington conversations and the German questions will be debated on Tuesday. Mr MacDonald undertook to answer as far as possible any questions then put to him. Mr MacDonald said the debt question would not be discussed at the World Conference. The conversations had not been productive of a debt agreement. Mr G. Lansbury, Leader of the Opposition, following Mr MacDonald, described it as extraordinary that to meet the demand for fuller _ information members had to put questions. Nobody inside or outside the House had the least idea what proposals the Government intended to make at the World Conference. The House had a right to know this before the conference opened.