OTTAWA MEETING

Hokitika Guardian, 18 August 1932, Page 5

OTTAWA MEETING

BRITAIN’S MOVE

SITTINGS EXTENDED

(United Press Association —By Electric

Telegraph—Copyright.)

OTTAWA, August 16,

spokesman announced that a meeting of heads of the delegations Was held at 5 p.ro., and it/was decided that in view of the difficulties encountered -in various negotiations, it was hopeless to expect finality before Sat- ’ urday. It was arranged therefore that departure of 'the' Empress of Britain from Quebec .should be postponed from Saturday until Sunday, enabling Mr Baldwin, his colleague and the largo staffs to remain at Ottawa until Saturday night, when they will leave by tpecial train. It is unlikely that the plenary session will be held on Thursday, he said, but there were remarkably good expectations that (satisfactory agreements would be reached before Saturday. The Anglo-Canadian situation looked very promising.

The announcement of the postponement is interpreted as indicating that Canada, Australia and New Zealand have not shifted ground, Russian wheat dumping being Canada’s maim problem, and the meat quota the chief concern of Australia and New Zealand. There is an atmosphere of renet among Australian and New Zealand delegates, contrasting with . yesterday’s gloom’, although -the position is unaltered, Britain not having hinted that she Is prepared' to surrender to the quota idea. The fact there is a longer breathing space raises hopes of a mutually .satisfactory adjustment. The postponement is further regarded as indicating Britain does not wish to appear as stampeding the conference -with an ultimatum.

The official spokesman emphasises there Jbas not been an ultimatum throughout the proceedings. Asked why The Empress of Britain was delayed he said that owing to natuilal .difficulties surrounding the big problems involved and the large number of negotiators participating from (Britain, the original idea of finishing the business on Thursday was not possible.

TO AVERT RUPTURE.

BRITAIN MAY RELAX,

OTTAWA, August 17.

As the result of an evening conference, which was characterised 'by a more conciliatory tone, Mr Bruce and Mr Forbes are sleeping mote" soundly tnan for a week past.

Although the British Ministers, Messrs 'Chamberlain, Runciman, , Lord Hailsham and Sir W. Gilmour have not yet given any ‘positive sign ef their surrender to tho meat quota principle, there is th© clearest evidence that all who are concerned are realising their responsibility, and are anxious to avoid rupture, with possibly, far-reaching consequences.

BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE,

1 CAUSES GRAVE CONCERN,

OTTAWA., August 16

The “Sydney Sun” representative says: There is growing admiration for Mr Bruce’s gallant fight against the powerful Free Trade influences in England in favour of the Argentine interests. Mr Bruce believes that he is fighting the battle of the meat industry, of the whole Empire, which he considers to be doomed unless the South American meat supplies can be controlled. He is now pitted against the whole of the British delegation, which is reported to be more unanimously opposing him on the beef question. Everyone retired last night in a state of grave concern and perplexity, because it was impossible to see how the difficulties can be reconciled.”

NEW YORK TAPER’S COMMENT.

■OTTAWA, August 16.

The following leading article will appear in to-day’s “New York Herald Tribune”: “There still seems to be some doubt as to the precise extent of the Ottawa Conference’s achievements. Can it he that the Ottawa Conference will- riot, after all, amount to much, except in its spiritual achievements? Whatever its immediate relationship to American commerce, the (Ottawa Conference does represent a serious effort to grapple with basic economic problems common throughout the world. The task of protecting her own national Industries, and at the same time promoting world trade, restoring the old free flow of capital in a world that, is embarrassed by often •p'oessiyo political ■ nationalisms and riven by special rivalries,,!,as a serious one. The Ottawa Conference already has attacked only in a relatively narrow and simple* field those questions which •the' World Economic Conference •will consider. -If' the Ottawa Confermikes but little progress, there wiP fc'. lo'M hope of anv practical ecMevomcit : in the l"”" r or area. Without any inirortant achievement by the Ottawa Cor’’eisue:* there v.-iil be V i confidence in the future of the British •Empire. As all of the political development o;f the Empil'o has seemed |n load more definitely towards separatism, it was to economic factors that thought Evil Englishmen turned to find bonds which would counteract this centrifugal tendency.”

HOSTILITY TO RUSSIA. OTTAWA, August 16. The question of Russian dumping is becoming purely a Canadian subject for negotiation, .seeing that Mr Bruce is compelled to devote the who I .© of his time strenuously to meat. Nevertheless, Australia stands behind Canada’s [strong demand for some effective restriction on Russian exports to Britain. Mr Bennett explains that the delay in reaching an agreement regarding Russia is due to the interchange of formulas, whereby restrictions might be imposed. Britain and Canada do not yet see eye to eye, nor has Britain agreed to the principle of the quota, but he is hopeful of a very early solution.

BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE

OTTAWA, August 17

The “Sydney Sun” representative at the Conference says:—“Mr J. H. Thomas spoke to Mr Ramsay MacDonald, at Lossiemouth to-night, over the trans-Atlantic telephone, and they discussed the Anglo- Australian deadlock and the Anglo-Canadian deadlock. Mr MacDonald made it dear that no -action of a. purely political character aimed' at Ivuiasiun trade by Bril tin, vvi’l be taken. Thus there vanishes th • last hope of any Russian embargo.”

IRELAND S ATTITUDE

OTTAWA, August. 16

'Th e Irish Free State is making no overtures at Ottawa for a solution, ot the trade problem.