BRITISHERS ALARMED

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXXII, Issue 57, 5 May 1924, Page 5

BRITISHERS ALARMED

BLOWS AT THE EMPIRE.

WEAKENING OF UNITY TIE.

(The Times.) (Received 10.40 a.m.)

London, Mav 4

Sir Philip Dawson and Mr P. J. Hannon. members of the House of Commons,, arrived after completing a tour of economic inquiry in Central and Southern Europe. They said tTTey saw everywhere intensified production carried out; much lower wages prevailed than in England; and there was practically no limitation of the hours of work. They found, moreover that Continential workmanship was rapidly approaching the quality of products of Britain. They sa w - no hope of resisting the enormous influx of foreign goods to the detriment of British labour in the absence of some reasonable protection for British enterprise. Their deepest concern, however, was over blows which they believed would he struck at the prestige of Britain throughout Europe in the weakening of Imperial unity, which they contended is hound to follow Ihe Government repudiation of preferences. "Britain is regarded throughout Europe as a great world-power, capable of securing the permanent peace and progress of mankind. They point out that this attitude on the part of foreigners is largely due to their association with Britain and the great sister nations making up the Empire. Therefore any change i Q the policy in England giving the impression abroad that British Imperial relations are being undermined must assuredly react to the disadvantage of British prestige.