TRADE MOVE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 86, 5 January 1935, Page 11

TRADE MOVE

Britain and Irish Free State CATTLE FOR COAL Interest of Dominions in Meat Situation ■ MORE IRISH EXPORTS , (British Official Wireless.) (Received January 4, 7.25 p.m.) Rugby, January 3. 'The Dominions Secretary, Mr. J. H. Thomas, lias authorised the following statement on the agreement between Britain and the Irish Free State: As the result of discussions during the last few weeks an informal understanding has been reached on the subject of the export of coal from the United Kingdom to the Irish Free State and of cattle from the Irish Free State to the United Kingdom. It.is anticipated in future that all Irish Free State coal imports will be purchased in the United Kingdom. This will mean an increase in coal exports from the United Kingdom of approximately 11 million tons a year, representing the full employment of about 5090 miners. "The coaFproducing districts securing the main benefit are those which benefited least from the Scandinavian trade agreement, namely, South Wales, North Wales, Lancashire, Cumberland, and the West Coast of Scotland. While the regulation of cattle imports from the Irish Free State is being continued en existing lines, provision is being made for the cattle admitted into the United Kingdom during 1935 to be, in the case of fat cattle, at the.rate of 62 2-3 per cent, of the 1933 quantities and, in the case of other regulated classes of cattle, a figure approximating to the average for. the years 1930 .to 1932.” The “Sun-Herald” agency representative, a Press Association cable states, says that although tne leakage of the Anglo-Irish agreement has somewhat embarrassed the British Government, which had not intended fully to reveal it until February and then as a White Paper, inner circles were aware that the recent discussions with the Do- ’ minions envisaged the., possibility of some increase in Irish supplies for which provision yvas made. Government quarters are either unable or not ready to explain the delicate and embarrassing phases of ihe situation arising at an unfortunate moment which coincided with Mr. Bruce’s intimation to Mr. J. H. Thomas that- Australia had agreed to a. temporary meat re-< striction. Effect on Meat Situation. The immediate concern of Australia and other. Dominions is the effect oit the meat situation. It is estimated that Ireland’s exports of cattle on the basis of the year will roughly be 150,000 above 1934, which were then approximately 530,000 cwt. additional to existing foreign and Dominion imports, while the effect of 66 2-3 per cent. Increase in fat cattle over the existing quota approximates to 38.000, but the effect on either Imports or market prices is uncertain. The'“Daily Telegraph" says that the "coal industry points out that apart from the employment of 5000 additional miners the agreement will increase employment in the railways, docks, shipping and transport industries. The agreement will lie a serious blow to Poland, which secured the sale of half a million tons yearly to the Free State, Iler exporters will be surprised at this sudden loss ff trade On the contrary, Irish railways welcome the new agreement, as locomotives have suffered under the change to Continental coal. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Dublin correspondent says that the agreement is warmly welcomed, particularly by farmers, who were badly hit by toe Anglo-Irish economic war. • Restriction Seems Assured. “The Times,” in welcoming the agreement, alludes to the Australian decision, and says that Cabinet’s condition respecting negotiations covering theavhoie ground of trade relations between Empire countries should present no difficulty Regulation in some form or- other seems now assured. Though the increased supplies front the Free State will not be balanced by t decreased supplies from other coi.ua- ’ tries already covered by agreements or from other parts of the Empire, means may well be found' to provide that the total supplies com ing to the British market are not in creased. Moreover, it is a legitimate deduction that the subsidy may be continued beyond the period frir which it is already granted. The “Daily Telegraph’s” political correspondent says that though the Anglo-Irish trade agreement does not affect financial differences between the two ■countries, political circles regard this limited business' agreement as encouraging “I understand,” he adds, “that the additional cattle coming frdui Ireland will not be from special duties, and similarly no provision is made to remit the Free State duty of 5/- a ton on British coal. Discussion between the Governments regarding these duties may take place in the near future. GREAT SATISFACTION Reception in Free State (Received January 4, 10.25 p.m.) Dublin, January 4. News of the Anglo-Irish agreement has been received with the greatest satisfaction in the Free State industrial and business circles, where the hope is expressed that it will be a prelude to a more comprehensive agreement covering all matters outstanding between the two countries The “Irish Times'” praises Mr. de Valera for recognising at last that the Free State’s economic interests are hnaand up with Britain’s. It adds that mere can now be no excuse for prolongation of the economic war. The “Irish Independent” says that the agreement is a tardy admission by Mr. de Valera that the market he thanked God had gone forever still exists, and is of value to the Free State. BUSINESS TRANSACTION Mr. de Valera Interviewed London, January 3. Mr. de Valera, interviewed, said that in his view the agreement was a busi-

i>ess transaction based on mutual interests, for which the Free State was always ready and willing. Similar opportunities would doubtless present themselves, and would probably be treated in the same spirit.