GERMAN TRADE.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 December 1924, Page 1

GERMAN TRADE.

Tit KATA' WITH BRITAIN. LONDON, Dee. 4. The text of the Anglo-German Commercial Treaty Inis been published. The Treaty is to remain in force for live years, and replaces with modifications the treaty passed in 181)8. It secures for British subjects and companies national treatment in Germany in respect of taxation and shipping, oxcept possibly coasting trade.

As the basis of the treaty is most-favoured-nation treatment, legislation must he passed in Britain removing the war-time disability on German citizens and companies in respect of their engaging in non-ferrous metal industries, and hanking in the United Kingdom, and the employment of German seamen in British ships. The great mass of prohibitions oil importations of goods into Germany, which have impeded British trade with that country, will he swept away. The most-favoured-nation clauses will he interpreted in the most liberal manner. Both parties agree to abstain from using their respective tariffs as means of discrimination, and both adopt the provisions of international conventions relating to trade and shipping concluded under the auspices of the League of Nations, notably at Barcelona and Geneva.

The treaty applies only to the l niled Kingdom, hut the right to adhere to it is accorded the Dominions, India, the C'olnies, British Protectorates, and British mandated territories, whose goods shall enjoy ino.-l-fa vonrcd-natioii treatment in Germany; hut tile German Government is empowered to withdraw this privilege in respect of any part of the Empire which has not adhered to the treaty before September Ist. 11)211. COMMENT ON TRADE AGREEMENT. [“Thu Turns" Skhvice.] LONDON. Dee. 5. Commenting in a leading article on the Anglo-German trade agreement, which is describes as a landmark, the “Times" says:—“While il is important in itself on account of the new principles it. establishes for regulating commercial intercourse between the two countries, it is still more important as a sign post indicating the departure from a slate of war. hv which Anglo-German relations have been dominated during the last ten eventual years. Nothing could have expressed more clearly than this commercial treaty, the fact that as far as the two chief belligerents are concerned. the war is over, and that trade intercourse is to be. not the still vivid memories of war. but that such opportunities for a peaceful arrangement in the common interest as the Peace T reatv allows.”