OUR FISCAL POLICY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2718, 13 March 1916, Page 5

OUR FISCAL POLICY

CONFERENCE WITH ALLIES

STATEMENT BY MR. ASQUITH.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, March JO. .. Sir G. 'S. Robertson, Liberal'member. for Central Bradford, raised the question'of the Government's fiscal policy, in connection with the approaching conference of the Allies in Paris'. Ho would jiot object if measures oould ba planned to keep Germany economically ''weak, provided they would not prove injurious to the Allies. He feared that a boycott would prevent Germany from paying any indemnity. If preference,,, wero given the Dominions over the Allies it would crcate the most serious difficulties. If preference 'wore, given the Allies over neutral countries, it would drive the latter into the Germans' arms, and place ourselves at ft .disadvantage in exporting to America as compared with Germany. ■ . Mr. Asquitli said that the House need . have no apprehension'that our representatives at the Paris Conference would fetter the action of tho Government or the House of Commons.'" It!" was wise' to participate in an exchange of views/to get at the changing econo-, mic conditions duo to the war, which was producing an enormous destruction of capital and an unexampled dislocation of industry. Wo must not be led by passion or desire to make victory secure to adopt measures which would inflict greater injuries on ourselves than upon Hie enemy.' ' The *' Government : would not commit,the country, upon a . matter on which it 'must' also consulsthe Dominions.