FRANCO-BRITISH ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 207, 27 May 1919, Page 5

FRANCO-BRITISH ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION

Paris, March 11,

The delegates of the Federation of British Industries .were entertained at dinner last night. M. Clementel, Minister of Commerce, who presided, held iip the Federation, which ({roups together 20,000 firms, representing a capital of .£'4,000,000,000, as a model for Fjench -industry. England's commercial situation hud, ho said, been compromised in all markets except India and Australia. In tlio economic struggle. ,in which a second victory must be obtained, France and England would triumph only if they went haml-in-hand. The collaboration now being established between French and British industry was the very condition of their common success.

Sir Herbert Dixon said that tile object of the visit to France was to prepare by an interchange of views the economic co-operation of tlx; two countries. British industrialists desired to share in tho reconstruction of France and Belgium. In their opinion, as in that of French industrialists, this help would he all the more effective in proportion as tho Governments were prompt in abolishing the restrictions now hampering freedom of exchange. Mr. Hughes declared that, in the interests of the common recovery of Franco and Great Britain, they must insist on Germany paying all she owed, otherwise the burden would fall on France, and the British Empire.

Tho subject of National Education was discussed at the annual council of the Protestant Political Association, and (lie following motions wero passed■—"(l) This council, nflirining its appreciation ul awl devotion to the present system of free, compulsory, and undenominational i.ducation, Mills upon tho Government to safeguard its schools by providing that the concessions already made to sectarian schools be .withdrawn and no further concessions made; and that the Government support the national system of education by providing for tho pupils of the Stato schools their fair proportion of Civil. Service appointments. (2) That an adequate vote (five millions) bo provided for the development of tho education system upon modern lines to enable proper provision to be made for the children and adequate remuneration to the teachers in keeping with the value and dignity of their calling. (3) This council urges upon parents the nmleeirability of sending their cbildreu to denominational echoola."