GERMAN TRADE.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 February 1916, Page 3

GERMAN TRADE.

NECESSITY OF PREFERENCE TO ' ALLIES. ADDRESS TO BUSINESS -MEN. (From Our Own Correspondent). Wellington, Feb. 7. Proposals for the boycotting of German trade alter the war by all the Allies were placed before the Wellington Chamber of Commerce to-day by Mr. lienric B. Murray, ex-Secretary of the London Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Murray is. at present 011 a visit to New Zealand, largely for the purpose of placing his ideas before commercial men. He wants the business section of the nation to make its voice heard when the terms of peace are being discussed.

Mr. Murray said that when the terms of peace came to be discussed, the power of decision would rest very largely with the soldiers and the politicians, and the business men woitld not be heard unless they were ready to forward promptly with definite proposals. The preparation of such proposals could not be accomplished by the Chambers of Commerce and other organisations throughout the Empire in a shorter time than eighteen months, and it was of the utmost importance, therefore, that the initial steps should be taken at once. "There are two points I would urge upon you," said Mr. Murray. "One is the necessity for a preferential treaty among the Allies. The proposal has been discussed fully here as in other parts of the Empire, anu there is nothing new to you in the suggestion that the British Empire and its allies should arrange to develop their own trade for their mutual advantage after the war. My second proposition has not been so fully dealt with. Tt is that the Allies should frame a well-considered, effective penal clause to be used against Germany after the war.

"The adoption of a preferential treaty may be regarded almost as a foregone conclusion. The financial and other arrangements that have been concluded by the British, French, Russian, Italian andJapanese Governments, the enormous sums of money that have been lent, and the vast quantities of munitions that have been supplied, have created relations that cannot be broken at the termination of the present struggle. The advantage that will accrue from a continuation of those relations are generally recognised. A preferential treaty will keep the Allies together. It will conserve to them their own enormous markets and prevent their enemies being enriched at their expense. It will be a guarantee for their future welfare." Mr. Murray added that feeling in favor of a scheme of preference within the Alliance was growing in the United Kingdom, though there were difficulties to be faced, particularly in relation to the free trade opinions of many influential people. The penal clause, said Mr. Murray, should cover the entire commerce of Germany, as well as German shipping, finance and the right of residence in Allied countries. The arrangement would not require any negotiation with the enemy, though it would certainly raise some points of international law. The Allied countries would simply agree among themselves to erect barriers against everything German. In conclusion, Mr. Murray suggested that the Wellington Chamber of Commerce should approach other Chambers of Commerce throughout the Dominion with a view to securing their adherence to the scheme. Then the organisation could be extended to Australia, South Africa, and Canada, in order that the Dominions of the Empire might be able to present a solid front when the time came to place their views before the Imperial Government. The President of the Chamber (Mr. J. 'Macintosh) thanked Mr. Murray for his address, and assured him that the members would give their earnest attention to the suggestion placed before them. They had discussed various phases of the matter already, and were all agreed, hp thought, that no effort should be spared to conserve British trade after the war and prevent the dominion of the Germans.