The Dominion WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1916. THE DECLARATION OF PARIS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2778, 24 May 1916, Page 4

The Dominion WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1916. THE DECLARATION OF PARIS

, The Conference of the Allies . which metin Paris towards the end of March is regarded by the French Press as an historical gathering of ■first-class importance. Tho document in which its conclusions are published is referred to as "The Declaration; of Paris." Some papers comparo it with the famous Declaration of London, in which the Allies solemnly pledged themselves not to ;inako a separate peace. It is asserted that the "Declaration of ' Paris" will live in history beside such great documents as Magna Oharta, the Declaration of ti:e Rights of Man, and the American Declaration of Independence. But time alone can reveal the real value °j deliberations and resolutions of this great war council, and it is useless to endeavour to anticipate fJ:e verdict of impartial history. • Vet there can be no doubt that, its unequivocal assertion of military and economic unity means a new departure in international relationships. The Paris Conference marks a further step in the direction of unity of purpose and action on the part of tho Allies. The strictest sccrecy was, of course, maintained regarding the details of its military decisions, but it requires no great exercise of tho imagination to appreciate the advantages to be derived from such a meeting of the political, naval, and military leaders of all the Allied Powers. Special stress is laid upon the earnest desire shown by tho delegates of the eight mations represented to subordinate purely national and private interests to the one supreme object of defeating the common enemy.. The Conference affirmed the entire community of views and solidarity of the Allies. This is intended to mean military unity of action as assured by tho agreement concluded between the General Staffs; economic unity of action, the organisation of which was considered oy the Conference ; and diplomatic unity of action, which is guaranteed by their unshakeable determination to continue the struggle till . vict6ry ■ is won. It was not the business of the Conference to devise an economic scheme which would give effcct Do the decision of the Allied Governments "to put into practice in tho economic domain their solidarity of views and interests." The Conference simply laid ■ down the broad ' principle that in their trade relationships the Allies will consider their mutual interests, in order to cripple the. enemy now, and to protect themselves from German commercial exploitation in the future. This very important matter will be further discussed at the Economic Conference to be hold next month, and will have to be carefully considered by ~the various Governments concerned before final action is; taken. One thing is certain, and that is that the world's trade will not flow on after the war unchanged in the old channels. The war has taught the Allies a .lesson which they are not likely to forget, . and the spirit of unity which now holds them together . will find expression in the commercial campaign which will begin in deadly earnest as soon as tho clash of armies has ceased. The war!has opened the eyes of the British public to the fact that during the year 1915 they Have managed to do without the goods which Germany was allowed to send to Britain duty free, to the detriment of home industries. These imports, in 1913 amounted to over £80,000,000 inl value. Commenting on these facts, the Sheffield Daily Tele.r/raph contends that if Great Britain, the Dominions, and our Allies would levy a duty of 50 per cent, on these goods, or excluded German and Austrian "dumped \" manufactures, there would be work for all after "the war, for very few of the German' goody' could not be made in the United Kingdom. The Paris War Council affirmed the principle of economic solidarity in general terms, and this affirmation was the expression of a real desire for positive action. Siqnob Salandra, the Italian Premier, assured the representative of a Paris newspaper that the resolutions were _ not platonic, but represented realities and concrete decisions. "Italy, in full solidarity with her Allies, has," he said, "subscribed to the Brand economic alliance of the future." If the hopes and_ expectations raised by the "Declaration of Paris" are substantially fulfilled it will he entitled to a place among the great events of history.