Wairarapa Times-Age THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1941. A SETTLEMENT POSTPONED.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 September 1941, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1941. A SETTLEMENT POSTPONED.

COMPARATIVELY little lias been heard thus far about the conditions in which Britain and other Empire countries will settle ultimately with the United States tor assistance received under the lend-lease programme. When the matter was mentioned in the House ol: Representatives the other day, the Minister of Supply. Mr Sullivan, said that discussions between the Governments of the United Kingdom, the I nited Stales and New Zealand, so far as Hu 1 Dominion is concerned with lendlease procedure, were still going on. This appears to be typical, of the extension generally of the lend-lease policy and though the position is unusual it need not on that account be open to criticism. The thing that matters now above all others, from the standpoint equally of the British Empire and its Allies ami that of the United Stales, is that the war should be won and an end made, of totalitarian gangsterdom. Until that indispensable foundation of future security has been laid, the details, al all events, of economic and other adjustments that ultimately will, demand attention may well be deferred. According to a staff correspondent of the “Christian Science Monitor,'’ however, British and American officials have for some little time been discussing the conditions ol repayment and it is understood that an agreement in principle been reached. A variety of methods of compensation to the I nited States for its lend-lease assistance have been canvassed, the correspondent adds, and these methods include the cession of further strategically located air and naval bases to America, “phis a number of significant commercial advantages which would place at the particular disposal of the United Staff's a share of the British Empire’s vast and valuable resources. Apart from the obvious intention of returning all lend-lease goods which may still be useable alter tiie war, the correspondent states, the following proposals are being studied:— 1. Fuller and easier access by the United States to Empire raw materials which America particularly requires but which do not compete with American products, such as Malayan tin and rubber. 2. Possible cession of both further bases in the Atlantic and new bases in the Pacific Ocean in order to strengthen the defence of the Western Hemisphere and give the United States protection against aggressive action by Japan. These bases in the Pacific could embrace such strategic points as Canton and Enderbury Islands, Christmas Island, the Gilbert Islands and other spots which flank Japan's course of empire-building. ' J 3. Generous tariff concessions enabling the United States to develop more extensively profitable commercial relations with parts of the British Empire which in recent’ years have been shielded by considerable tariff barriers. Subject only to some obvious reservations, there should be every reasonable prospect of agreement being reached on the proposals thus ouilined. No difficulty is likely to arise over raw materials. The suggestion regarding the cession of further strategic bases, too. has to be read with the fact in mind that hopes of future world security admittedly are contingent upon international co-operation to that end —co-operation in which (he British Empire and the United Stales must be prepared to play a loading pari. It possibly may bo necessary to establish safeguards against any later misunderstanding where tariff adjustments and eoncessions are concerned. It is agreed very generally that there is plenty of room for the removal of obstacles and barriers to the extension of world trade, but there can be no question of committing any Dominion of the British Empire to a general policy of tariff concessions to the United States. For reasons that are well understood and acted upon in the United States, the British Dominions will maintain unimpaired their right to protect their own industries. Any practical approach to this question by the United States must be on the basis of negotiations tor reciprocal trade. Within recent years some of the British Dominions tentatively seeking reciprocal trade with the United Slates have had their proposals rejected, on Hie ground that the markets they desire cannot be made available in the United States. No Dominion will agree to a one-sided and unconditional admission of American goods. This no doubt is appreciated on both sides ol the Atlantic, but it. is important that no' 1 misunderstanding on the subject should be allowed to arise.