ECONOMIC PACT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 51, 28 January 1938, Page 7

ECONOMIC PACT

M. VAN ZEELAND’S PLAN. SOUNDING THE POWERS. EXCHANGE OF VIEWS. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received Januarv 28, 11.50 a..m. LONDON, Jan. 27. The report which has been collated by the former Belgian Prime Minister (jl. Van Zeeland) recommends that Britain, America, France, Germany and Italy immediately consider whether an agreement can be reached on general principles which could be embodied in a pact of economic collaboration.

The Australian Associated Press understands that it may be assumed that other countries will be ready to join in practical action on tho lines of M. Van Zeeland’6 report. The United Kingdom is prepared to play its part. Public interest in the report is so keen that the French and British Governments, with th© concurrence of M. Van Zeeland, have decided to publish it immediately it is received. They have not had the opportunity to study the proposals fully or jointly. It is likely that, after the closest study, there will be an informal exchange of views between the countries concerned to test the atmosphere for a formal meeting, but the outlook does not appear very hopeful. It is understood that M. Van Zeeland traversed such a thornv path across the principal countries in Central and Western Europe, and found such suspicion among the leading financial ai\d economic authorities, that ho declared he would never like to take on such an arduous and thankless job again.