RUSSIA AND EMPIRE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 361, 24 October 1932, Page 4

RUSSIA AND EMPIRE

In the course of his speech on the Ottawa agreement, the member for Invercargill, Mr. J. Hargest charged Great Britain with favouring Russia at the expense of her Dominions and contended that the trade position as it stands at present is unfair to the other units of the Empire. It is possible, however, that it is a mistake to over emphasise Empire ties and it must be recognised that Russia is a great potential customer and consumer for British goods. We cannot agree with Mr. Hargest that f^ilure to check Russian imports will force Russian living eonditions upon the Dominions, but if the principle of inter-Empire trade is to be followed, it is reasonable to argue that where possible the Empire should have preference against a country which has not only repudiated its legal obligations but avowedly set itself to undermine the funclamental principles upon which the Emnire is

established. The British Government, however, has plainly indicated that it will not tolerate Russian dumping and so long as this is safeguarded there does not appear to be cause for undue anxiety. Practical facts must be faced and it is obvious that Great Britain cannot alford to blackball Russia entirely. Under present eonditions, Britain's prospects of obtaining any just settlement of Russian liabilities are remote and she is therefore forced to make the best of a bad job and tTade with Russia as far as possible to her advantage. There cannot, however, be any justification for accepting exports from Russia which can be equally well obtained from Empire sources at competitive prices The present Russian policy is undoubtedly a menace, not only to the stability of the world but to that of the Empire, but that does not mean that anything and everything Russian must be abjured. Economic factors, we think, will force Russia as they are forcing the Free State, into a saner frame of mind and when that time comes it will be to the mutual advantage of both England and Russia to foster normal trading eonditions.