OVERSEA TRADE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20088, 7 November 1939, Page 3

OVERSEA TRADE

POLICY OF BRITAIN CONFIDENCE RESTORED LONDON, Oct, 13. It is the Government’s fixed policy to maintain and encourage oversea trade, which is vital to the prosecution of the war. Essential imports, namely, war materials and the foodstuffs needed to keep the nation alive, are paramount but exnort trade is complementary, and, therefore, is equally important—hence the rigorous steps to enforce effectively contraband control, otherwise the blockade (which word is not officially used).

Delays in issuing export licenses which occurred in the early days ci the war. before the new Department of Economic Warfare got into its stride, now have been eliminated. The issue of export licenses has risen from 1500 daily to 8000.

Doubts in the minds of British manufacturers whether the flew of thenexports would be interrupted had the effect of cancelling a proportion of advertising contracts in the Dominions, but confidence has been speedily restored, and almost all the contracts have been renewed, because exporters became satisfied that the Navy would maintain open and safe sea routes, as it actually is dome. Moreover, exporters have been made aware that Dominion markets will remain normal and that the consumption of British goods ' is even likely to increase. The British Government’s trade policy provides .for the following precedence; (1) The supply of the needsof the fighting services: (2) the maintenance of import ancl export trade; (3), the orevention of undue inte--ference with the 1-lome trade. If difficulties arise, the Home trade will feel the pinch before the oversea trade. It is now indisputably established that Dominion products—now even more valuable to Britain than overwill be lifted and that British cargoes will be landed in Dominion ports with unfailing regularity.