EMPIRE TRADE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 212, 2 June 1919, Page 5

EMPIRE TRADE

SIR. G. FOSTER ON THE NEW , CANADA. \ Sir ! George Poster, the Canadian Minister of Trade and Commerce, and one of Canada's delegates to the Peace Conference, recently gave in a statement to a special representative of the London "Times" 1 an interesting review of the changes which have reoently taken place in that Dominion. Sir George Foster said

The occasion lately taken by the British Government to free imports from outlying parts of the Empire from embargo restrictions will be received with great satisfaction by British people everywhere,' and especially by the Overseas Dominions

It is a far different Canada which takes up the burden of peace work in 1019 and after from that which faced the peace problem of 1913 and before. And its motives and its methods will be different as well. A business, foreign and domestic, vanished and greatly dislocated, is to be picked up anew, lost customers are to be regained, new competitors to .be faced under new conditions, and & vast burden of war costs, direct and consequential, to be met in interest and principal. By harder work, greater eaving, and improved and accelerated production and distribution, and 'by these alone, can. the task of readjustment and reconstruction be accomplished, and the great possible future of Canada assured.

Canada comes to the solution of this problem with changed vision and new ijnpulses. During the war she has in many respects found hor new self. Her ideals and vision have reached beyond national boundaries and merged themselves with those of a world fighting to the death for world-justice and rights and freedom, and in this fierce struggle her song have borne their heroic part and jningled their blood' with the sons of the world's best. She has stood equal with them in war; she is minded now and henceforth to match them proportionally in the works of peace. In war work she organised and wrought wonderfully and successfully. She w determined now to divert the experience and confidence, gained therein to peace production and distribution. From a proud and foremost position gained in the ptruggle to secure peaco she will not now recede in the work of betterment and ■uplift rendered , possible thereby.' She has come among tho nations as a coworker and equal, and intends to make her placo good, i Canada did her war work as a part of tho Empire under its flag and co-opera-tive direction. It would like to carry on its peace work under like auspices and with like 00-operation. First it desires if possible to make that sure and then work from that baeis out into the markets of Allies and of foreign neutrals. To that end it has given preferential treatment to the Mother Country without demanding return, and preferential treatment to nearly all British countries without demanding exactly equivalent return. Without diotating to the Mother Country what she shall do by way of preference? to 'bind Empire trade interests more closely together, we yet do desire to be understood, and to be. if not preferentially, yet certainly sympathetically treated, and in no. case to suffer discrimination as compared j with , foreign oountries.

As regards this latter question the dooieion alluded to in the beginning of this interview has Ijeen most opportune and reassuring. It has set the practical seal to what nas been known for • some t'nik to bo tho policy of.the present Government.- That it has been delayed in getting from the stage of resolution' to actual embodiment has caused much heartsearching and disappointment, which' is now happily, and let us hope for ever, dispelled. The Empire which has fought ,together in such elose and beneficial cooperation to maintain its existence may well extend the experience gained therein to the 00-operative and sympathetic development of its vast resources and its benefioent mission in times of peace. Is not now the chosen time, the psycliological moment to make this our public confession of business faith and our trade creed, and publish it in the face of the world ? ,

In the United Kingdom we have six Canadian trade commissioners, vhoso steady and intelligent efforts are devoted to the spread of information as to what wo have that Britain needs and what we need that Britnin oan supply. For we need to purchase from British producers as well as to sell to British consumers. There is a large balance of trade against Britain that we would like to see diminished by 6ales to us, and there is a wide field for this in Canada.

Wo have lately set up a trade mission in London under Mr. Lloyd Harris, with its headquarters at the British Columbia House in Regent street. With a competent and experienced staff, this mission will permeate Great Britain with information, practical and pertinent, will get in personal touch with buyers and sellers, and serve as a quick medium of communication between business men in Canada and here. Full advantage will be taken of the' Press, the kinema, ai)d the personal factor to make known Canada's wants nnd capabilities of supply, to diminish the friction of departmental red tape, and get into more harmonious and effectivo methods of exchange and administration. The good will and understanding and sympathetic co-operation of British business men with broad views of Empire development is r,ought for, and that mutual trust and team work that can do so'-much in-the great work of rehabilitation which is facing us all.