Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-15
NATIONS OF ENTENTE
IN ECONOMIC union
Presidents Test Will Determine
Whether Germany Shall Be
Admitted After War.
OPINION OF LORD CECIL
Hunland Living Under Ambi-
tious and Intriguing Masters
Will Not Be Welcomed.
OPINION OF LORD CECIL
| By Associated Pres,

LONDON. July 14.--An economic
association Of twenty-four nations
comprising the entente allies already
is in existence. declared Lord Robert
Cecil British undcr-secretary OF state
for foreign affairs and minister OF
blockade. in comprehensive state
ment regarding tho worlds trade after
the war. which was issued to-day
Whether Germany eventually shall
be admitted to this economic assori1-
tion. declared the British minister, will
be determined By :hc test established by
President Wilson. when the President
said on December 4 that il the Ger
man people should still after the war
was over continue 10 be obliged to
live under ambitious and intriguing
masters interested to disturb the peace
of the world" II might be impossible
TO admit them to the partnership of
the nations or 10 free economic inter
course.
Lord Robert described this statement
by the President as a definition OF the
qualifications for membership in tn.
association Of nations. and added: ITO
these declarations we give our warm
est assent"
Germany is the one obstacle to this
economic association OF nations. said
Lord Robert-the Germany described
by President Wilson-a Germany liv-
ing under ambitious and Intriguing
masters.
GERMAN POLICY AT VARIANCE
WITH OUR PRINCIPLES
"Germany's economic policy toward
al! the groupings OF peoples from the
Arctic Ocean to the Black Sea-" lie
continued rs absolutely contrary to
our principles. Economic independents.
and free choice are the last things
which Germany will ever allow TO the
people within her reacn.
so long as this is the policy of
Germany. how can We admit her to
membership in the free association OF
nations, 10 which we already belong ."
asked Lord Robert. Before we can
offer her any participation in our re-
sources. we must release her victims
from the economic slavery that she is
imposing upon them"
With regard TO the economic prin-
ciples OF this association of nations.
Lord Robert said Presiden: Wilson had
on January s. stated them in memoir
able words when he advocated the
nomic barriers and the establishment
of an equality of trade among the ma
uons conscntinG TO peace and assert
ing themselves for its ma intcnance."
After giving 'warmest assent" 10
these declarations of the President.
Lord Robert added:
But do these declarations neces-
sarily mean that we--the association
of nationS--are to have no protective
tariffs in international competition in
trade after the war? No. Every one
is agreed TO that. In the words of
the program of the interallied labor
conference the right of eack nation
to the defense OF it's own economic in
tercsts and to the conservation OF
sutficiency of foodstufs and ma
terials cannot he denied"
He concluded with the expression OF
tho hope that the time was not far
off when the allies would meet at the
council board 10 discuss in detail the
economic associations. which will com
binc the resources of the civilized
world in the joint work of reconstruct
tion and the restoration of property.