PROSPECT OF TRADE AGREEMENT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 20931, 10 January 1938, Page 7

PROSPECT OF TRADE AGREEMENT

ANGLO - AMERICAN PLANNING DESIGNED TO PROMOTE WORLD PEACE IMPORTANT GESTURE TO ITALY United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received January 9, 6.30 pm.) NEW YORK, January 8. The Washington correspondent of "The New York Times” says: The formal intention to negotiate a trade agreement with the United Kingdom is announced by the Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull). The United Kingdom will act for itself, Newfoundland and the colonial empire. It is believed that the broad principles of proposed agreement have already been settled and only the detailed discussions on rates with the British experts, who may arrive early in February, remain. Tire proposed agreement is a climax to two years’ quiet informal discussions and explorations. The correspondent concludes: It took time to break down the extreme protectionism in England. The process was aided by the Dominions scepticism regarding the Ottawa agreements, displayed through the Empire Conference last year. Officials here ridicule the German and other misgivings that an economic rapproachment means the beginning of the democracies’ stand against the rest of the world, and pointed out that President Roosevelt and Mr Hull had worked for five years to promote world trade and that the British participation in such a promotion is most natural. Likely Concessions Mr Cordell Hull has issued a lost of one thousand products on which the United States will consider allowing concessions to the United Kingdom. Mr Hull added a warning, however, that the list was only for consideration.

DR. VAN ZEELAND’S PLAN INTERESTING CONVERSATIONS IN ENGLAND British Official Wlrelesa (Received January 9, 7.30 p.m.) RUGBY, January 8. An official communique issued after conversation between Mr Neville Chamberlain and Dr Van Zeeland states that the latter before completing his report, desired to ascertain Mr Chamberlain’s views on the general situation of the prospects of international action in the economic and financial spheres. Dr. Van Zeeland anticipates that his report will be ready in tire course of the next fortnight. He probably returns to Brussels to-morrow. “An attempt to bring England, America, France, Germany and Italy into closer economic and political unity is believed to be the basis of the plan Dr. van Zeeland is to discuss with the Prime Minister," write the diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily Mail,” according to an earlier message. It is understood that Dr. van Zeeland's report suggests first of all a London conference of European Powers to consider economic matters, followed by a London or Washington world conference to deal with political issues, including disarmament. A Paris message stated that on Saturday Dr. van Zeeland’s report includes a vast plan for the economic development of Central Africa, according to “Pertinax,” writing in the “Echo le Paris.” The report contemplates an international regime similar to the longo basin plan of 1885. “Pertinax” ronsiders the scheme to be dangerous, unless accompanied by explicit political reservations. If Africa is developed according to Dr. van Zeeland”s ideas it would only increase the war preparations by totalitarian States.