BRITAIN’S OPTION

Hokitika Guardian, 17 January 1927, Page 3

BRITAIN’S OPTION

IN TRADE RECIPROCITY

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] LONDON. .Tan. In. In responce in the bankers manifesto cabled on October l!)th last, the British National Committee of' International Chamber of Commerce has convened a conference of British industrial leaders for January 19th. Sir Arthur Balfour will be Chairman and Sir P. Cunliffo Lister will be the chief speaker. Tho Conference is to prepare a policy for Hhe League of Nations’ forthcoming Economic Conference. The principal British proposal is a reduction of tho European tariff harriers, and tho substitution of reciprocal commercial agreements. Mr Ben Morgan, in an interview, exV pressed the opinion that this is a very / I dangerous proposal from the viewpoint ■ of tho Empire’s development, because P such reciprocity would bo likely to handicap imperial relations. He instanced tho new Anglo-Portuguese agreement affecting Empire wines, the Anglo-Greek agreement handicapping Empire currants, and tho Anglo-Ger-man agreement, tying Britain’s bonds regarding special agreements with the remainder of the Empire. He also instanced Britain’s commercial treaties with tho Belgian Congo and Zanzibar, to prevent Kenya according the Empire tariff preferences. He fpys that a similar agreement deters the West African colonies from reciprocating in Ytariffs throughout the Empire. i "Mr Morgan says :“If Anglo-Euro-peau reciprocity is adopted it will delay for twenty or thirty years the ht'l development of imperial preference and it will mean that Britain will be compelled to take European goods in exchange for British goods under “favoured nation’’ clauses, which policy will drag Britain into the very heart of European politics, whereas it should be directed to the avoidance of any European entanglements and to tho establishment of a Monroe Doctrine for tlie Empire.