TRADE AFTER THE WAR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 31, 12 January 1916, Page 2

TRADE AFTER THE WAR.

ALLIED ZOLLVEREIN SUGGESTED. TO CRUSH ECONOMIC GERMANY. i United Pukss Association. London, .January 11. Mr W. Hewins, in moving a motion on the lines cabled on December 19, snid it did not imply censure of the Government, bnt mainly aimed at suggesting methods to shorten the war and injure Germany's economic policy as much as possible. The key to Germany's diplomacy was not the political but the economic subjection of the countries she now occupied. The Government should fully and frankly act upon the resolutions adopted by the Imperial conference, and tliore should be a further conference of Empire representatives to consult as to ways and means to check German designs. We should see that the resources of the Empire over which we had a monopoly should no longer be exploited in the interests of oiir enemies. Although it was impossible and undesirable to attempt to realise an economic Zollverein of the Empire and the Allies, it was possible to make suitable arrangements with those countries. Nothing ;would so discourage Germany as to make it clear, when the war is over, that the securities which are the basis of her paper currency will never have ;a chance of recuperation. When Germany understood that we had taken such action it wotdd be a material step towards shortening the. war. Mr B. E. Peto, in seconding the motion, said that steps should be taken to arrange with the Allies a policy based entirely on new treaties, and they should also consider the position ,of neutrals and the position we should iassign our enemies.

Sir A. Mond said that the war was due to the ambition and imperialistic ideas of Germany, regardless of economic and commercial considerations. No amount of legislation, tariff jugglery, and treaties would deprive Germans of the advantages of their encouragement of scientific and technical knowledge. England's banking system was the greatest bar to industrial development. The most serio\is competition after the war would come from America, not from exhausted Germany, which with a large proportion of her population gone, and her finance in a deplorable condition, could not flood the world with goods.

Mr H. Chaplin said that in 1913, 48 per cent, of German exports went to ourselves and the Allies,' and therefore we had enormous power if we thought fit to use it. Other speakers urged the, Government not to treat the discussion academically, but give the Empire and Allies a lead.

Mr Runeiman, in reply, said that notwithstanding the fact that imports had gone up, exports had gone down. Tlie economic strength of the Empire was so well founded that we had stood the strain better than the Central Powers. It was clearly by economic pressure that we would be able to persuade the German Government of the fruitlessness of continuing the struggle. We must dismiss the idea of free trade within the Empire, but we are not prepared to altogether dismiss the idea of a Zollverein including the Allies. The difficulties, however, were very great. If a Zollverein between the Empire and the Allies would end the war we should have a Zollverein, as we are prepared lor any arrangement to bring the war to a successful issue. The House agreed to Mr Hewius' motion. Mr- Runciman, referring to free trade within the Empire, said that the policy of the Dominions was not likely to be modified. They were determined to raise their revenue in their own way, and must therefore dismiss the idea of free tiv.de within the Empire. Reference had been made to the production of raw material in the Dominions. The control of metals had years ago passed to Frankfurt, which dictated the production of metals even in the Dominions. Australia went to the length of cancelling by legislation every contract in which a metal organisation at Frankfurt was concerned. Regarding metals, nothing could be more wholehearted than the support given by the Dominions. Consequently we have the abundance of maganese, tungsten, and wolfram, while the production of spelter was increasing. The Dominions had shown a wonderful spirit, and he believed that any suggestions which would arise during discussions in London would meet with the same warm-hearted reception. We are mobilising the whole economic strength of the Empire during the war. He did not believe we ought to do evervthing in our power to in J n [ e and ruin German finance, we should cripple Cram]), squeeze, and destroy her trade. The Hoard of Trade were looking ahead, as peace might come very much sooner than some people expected. The real trouble would be when the war ended and Germany was beaten on sea and land, we might wish to embark on a new economic campaign, and it was necessary, when making peace, to see that Germany did not raise her head.