MR. HUGHES' SPEECHES.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 June 1919, Page 2

MR. HUGHES' SPEECHES.

<M PROBLEMS OF THE DAY. By- Telegraph;— Press Assn.— Copyright. London, June 18. Mr. Hughes has inaugurated a aeries of half a dozen farewell speeches in London. When he'was entertained at a luncheon given by the British Empire Producers' Organisation, Lord Milner, who presided, said that doubtless Mr. Hughes was not altogether satisfied with the advance that Empire production had made recently, but during the war the Empire had learned perforce to depend upon itself. The question now was whether the impetus the war had given would continue.

Mr. Hughes urgently appealed to the Government to define Britain's economic policy- Not only Britain, but the Dominions, were entitled to know if Germany was to be admitted. Germany had climbed to greatness by means of England's open-door policy. The question to-day was whether they were returning to the policy which nearly gave the Germans the mastery of the world. The adoption of Imperial preference might be the mustard seed destined to grow into a mighty tree, under wnicn' the peoples of the Empire would find protection and comfort, but. a bolder and more definite policy was essential. It certainly was essential in labor, finance, and industry; also in the organisation of Imperial manufactures and trade on a great scale. The nation was still living on Its capital like a man sucking his own blood. Were the Germans to be helped or permitted to resume trade with Britain as they did before the war, sometimes under transparent disguises? If so, Germany would creep back to the old position and the war would' have been fought in vain. Unless a definite policy was adopted which won I give British manufacturers preference in their home markets and give the raw material from the Dominions a larger market within the Empire, not only would Imperial trade suffer, but the Empire would tend to disintegrate. The Dominions were passionately attached to the Empire, but did not hold the view that the Empire was just another nam6 for Britain. An economic policy which did not recognise this would destroy the Empire. The alternative was a policy of "Britain and the Empire for the Germanß, dictated by pacifists, defeatists, or the interests of international finance. If this policy of negation is adopted it won't matter much whether the Hohenzollerns or Ebert the saddler controls the destinies of Germany."