EMPIRE AFFAIRS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 January 1925, Page 2

EMPIRE AFFAIRS

CANADA AND GERMANY. IUBTItALTAN AND N.Z. CAIILB ASSOCIATION OTTAWA. January 9. The Canadian Government has adopted an attitude, watchful and waiting, regrirdiiig trade relations with Germany. The Acting-Minister of Finance (Mr Robb) characterises as most misleading the recent Berlin despatches, stating that Canada, alone, of the British Dominions, opened negotiations with Germany for a trade agreement, lie says: “If Germany exercises unfair discrimination against Canadian products. Canada will know how to act. in the light of past events.'’ OTTAWA. January 10. Canada has taken no formal step to register, or to participate', as a separate nation in Hie most-tavoured-nation commercial treaty recently concluded bv Britain with Germany, with the promise that anv of the Dominions could adhere fo it. if they desired. The time limit expires on January 10th. Apparently the Government hr’s not anlieipte any atlcm|l hv Germany to discriminate against Canadian trade. SOUTH AFRICA'S POSITION. CAPETOWN. January 9. Interviewed at Pretoria. Premier Hcrtzog outlined the Government's altitude respecting the Imperial Conference on the Geneva I’rotocol. While reluctant to express a definite opinion, lie declared that as far as South Africa was concerned, she was not prepared to add to her obligations under the League Covenant. At present, he could not say more. It was quite imnosxible for any Union Minister to leave South Africa before ' August. Therefore, if the Conference wore held it would be .highly improbable that the Government would he represented. Regarding the proposed Disarmament Conference in June, he said that the wav of (onsultation would he only hv cable. Asked if he agreed that the Protocol would reduce the sovereignty of the Union Government in its jurisdiction over domestic matters, lie replied that all the signatories would ho affected that way. Some phases of I nion affairs were vitally affected.