TRIPARTITE TARIFF

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2649, 21 December 1915, Page 7

TRIPARTITE TARIFF

TO CRUSH GERMAN TRADE * 3y Telegraph—Press Association—OopyrigM London, December 19. Mr. \V,-A. S. liowins, M.P., chairman of the Unionist Business Committee, interviewed regarding tlie> debate on January 4, said the whole of German economics was based on the Central European treaty system.' Seventy-live per cont. of German trade was done with the local European treaty powers and the British ' Empiro. German war finance was based upon the security representing , this > trade. Germany would be horrified if the British Empire announced' that it was determined to make the system impossible in the future. There would be a panic if Germany could be convinced • that the resources of the Empire would in future be used for the benefit of the British Empire. That fear would liaturallv shorten the war. The Em- I pir© could do this by making it clear J that Great Britain after the war intended to use her power in bargaining. This would force Germany to consider her conception of the_ most-favoured-nation clause. The _ visit_ of the Australasian representatives in London in -the New Year conld be made the nucleus of an Imperial Economic Conference for the purpose of taking immediate action. Sir Robert Borden, Premier of Canada, could easily attend', and South Africa could be';represßnted at. the conference, wbioh should take the t initiative, in fixing a tripartite tariff giving preferential terms to the Empire, fixing a revenue tariff for the Allies, and a penalising tariff for our enemies. Mr. Hewins added: "I understand that the British Government has already communicated • with Australia and the Dominions 'concerning some of the problems to be discussed at euch a conference for the destruction of Germany, Including the control of the Empire'smetals by aliens, the organisation of the Imperial food supplies, and the possibility of framing a, British Imperial "navigation system. . f'At the request of the Unionist Business Committee, • Mr.. . Asquitli fixed January 4 as the date for the debate on the advisability of immediately consults ing the Dominions with a view to bringing the Empire's whole economic ' strength against tho enemy, in co-opera-tion with Britain's Allies., The promoters urge that 6teps be taken to defeat Germany's system" •of trade treaties.] ' DEPRESSION AFTER WAR FORECAST BY A LABOUR LEADER. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Rec. December 20, 5.5 p.m.) London, December 10. Mr. A. Henderson, M. P. (Labour), has contributed to the ■ Labour Year Book a forecast of what Labour will' be confronted with after the war. He Bays; "The first vearß of peace will be a time "of grave depression, affecting not: merely single trades',- but the whole industrial system.- The utmost economy during the war may.''alleviate, but cannot wholly avert, the distress that is bound to follow tho return of peace, whioh will mean: the renewal of many eld struggles.". ' .