THE PARIS ECONOMIC CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2841, 4 August 1916, Page 5

THE PARIS ECONOMIC CONFERENCE

DEBATE IN THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT

THE TRADE WAR Australian-New Zealand Oabla Association. (Heater's Telegram.) London, August 2. Opening the discussion in the House of Commons on the resolutions of the •'> Economic Conference, Mr. Asquith said that the Conference was hold to convinco. tho enemy that tho Allies aro resolved, to wage.war with tho samo unity and' determination in an economic sense as in a militai-y scnse.\ The war had ■ opened their eyes to the full weaning of. the German system. Economic penetration was necessary to prepare to combat the attacks on the Allied markets, for which. Germany was already organising her industries. It was the duty'of tho Allies to take every step to Eecuro for their own use, and to prevent tho German coin I trol, of the products of the Allied coun^: tries. It was ail essential condition of peace, Mr. Asquith said, that Belgium, Serbia, Poland, and North France should' be restored economically. Tho Board of Trade was engaged upon a scheme to make up, independent of tho enemy, supplies of dyes, spelter, and other com-' i modities. A scheme of research was being inaugurated, and a strong committee, under Lord Balfour, was considering tho commercial and industrial policy generally, which would subsequently bo discussed at the Imperial Conference, at which India would be represented. Mr, Asquith emphasised that the resolutions' did'not aim at neutrals. He added that" he was not abandoning his freo trade ■ principles; ho was merely asking tho House to envisage tho new facts. Mi'. Asquith added 'that the Board of ' Trado had embodied three most import-, ant resolutions, providing for- most-fav-«. oured-nation treatment, protection against, dumping, and measures to rendor tho Allies commercially independent. The omens were satisfactory for British industries after tho war. They were snow-*' 'i ing extraordinary resourcefulness during tho war,. and there was a greater dis-: position on the part of manufacturers to, co-operate to put their trade secrets into the common stock, and to use the me-, chanical and scientific resources of the country in the same trades. These changes amouhted to a revolution. With a view to seeing that the benefits which would result from tho new policy were fairly apportioned among all sections of the community, tho Government was anxious to consider the outlines of a post-war policy in concert with the representatives of labour in all stages. ' Sir Edward Carson said that the House would be well satisfied by the general statement.. It was completely satisfactory. They now had a, clean slate, : and must be caroful what they wrote' on it. "The operations of these resolutions would bo as vital a victory as any; , possible tin the field. Sir John Simon said that the Houso ■ ; should not do anything to shift the trade centre of tho world from England,. ■ • - • probably to America. i Major Churchill said that the resolutions wore likely to promote confidence - and solidarity among the Allies, and to comfort the small nations. Mr. Bonar Law said that everything in the Paris resolutions which would - ! have a direct result in the war ought ■; to be done whatever tho fiscal news •of the Government. Those proposing that Germany should be allowed to send goods to Britain as in the past would not have tho smallest chance of being elected. They might abandon the prospect of holding power during .this gener-. ation. It was essential to provent the . dumping of the large amount of stocks which had already accumulated. ' Mr. W. A. S. Hewins said that Mr. Asquith's declaration would be received \yitli profound satisfaction throughout the Empire and among the Allies, , Tho debate then ended; PRESS COMMENT, ("The Times.") (Rec. August 3, 1(T.5 p.m.) London, August 3. The "Times" in a leader says: "Mr. Asquith's statement is satisfactory. He has completely adopted the national " ' view. An Imperial conference will be generally welcomed throughout tho Empire as an essential preliminary to Im- ' perial action, but some emergency mesr suro should be adoptod without delay."'