FREE TRADE CONGRESS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9160, 6 August 1908, Page 5

FREE TRADE CONGRESS.

Received August 5, 11.4 p.m. LONDON, August 5. The International Free Trade Congress, which is being held under the auspices of the Cobden Club, opened in Caxton Hall yesterday. . Five hundred delegates, including I many ladies, were present. All the European nations were represented except Russia. Delegates were present from the United States, Canada, Australasia and Ceylon. Sir C. Wei by, who presided, ad-, mitted that the prospect for free trade throughout the world was somewhat cloudy. Protection was advancing in a very aggressive fashion, but the freetraders were confident that the cause which promoted liberty at Home, and friendship and peace I abroad must ultimately triumph. Mr Winston Churchill, who opened the discussion on free trade in its bearing on international relations, warmly welcomed the delegates, and cited Britain as a substantial object lesson as to the possibility of a nation rtmaining prosperous and powerful while pursuing free trade. He insisted o:i an intimate relation | between the free trade principles and good inttrnation I relations. Mr Churchill, continuing, said that the bearing of fmtnde on International relations might be summed up in one word, "Peace." "We secured the loyal, prosperous and j profitable colonies by extending to i them, without demand or request, exclusive preference, all that we may justly and freely give," said Mr I Churchill. Mr Churchill admitted i that many of the must curious delcjsionh still claimed a large measure of public support. These misconceptions tended to produce disunion between the great peoples. Freetraders looked forward to the world becoming a co-operative Commonwealth, wifh its affairs so inextricably woven through the prosaic bonds of commerce that they would not be able to tear them apart, every part being dependent on every other member of. the vast confederation. Personally, he was convinced that freetrade ideals would triupmh. Suffragettes frequently interrupted Mr Churchill, and were expelled.