New-York tribune., 1918-06-14
Committees File Reports
After Study Of Interna-
tional Situation
Urge License System
Exports to Enemy Countries
Would Be Prohibited for
at Least a Year

LONDON, June 49, Reports of sew
eral committees appointed in 1915 by
the Board of Trade to consider the no
sition of the various trades after the
war, with reference to international
competition, were published here this
evening.
The committee on textile trades
recommends immediate measures to in
crease the output of cotton in India,
Egypt and the Sudan and also for the
control of the export of Egyptian cot
ton, in order to safeguard the require
ments of the British Empire and its
allies, and to prevent any possible
leakage to or storage for account of
enemy states.
Regarding wool the committee points
out. the predominant position of the
British Empire in the production Of
wool for clothing purposes and sug-
gests early conferences between repre-
sentatives of Australia, New Zealand
and South Africa in order to formulate
plan with q view to the fulflment
Of the pledges to the Allies in the Paris
resolution, the safeguarding of British
requirements and the utilization of the
wool resources of the empire as a
means for bargaining.
The committee suggests a policy of
licenses during the period of recon
struction, with prohibition of exports
to enemy countries for at least one
year after the conclusion of peace and
for such further period as may be de-
srable, while exports to- neutral coun-
tries would be restricted to wool avail
able after satisfying the requirements
of the British Empire and its allies.
The committee recommends measures
to stimulate the production of flax in
Ireland, Canada, India and other parts
of the empire, and also recommends
ures to conserve the supply of flax for
each others use in priority of other
demands.
Regarding the textile industry the
committee recommends government
measures which will make the cotton
industry of Great Britain independent
of foreign sources of supply as regards
dyestutfs, knitting needles and other
pivotal articles"
AS regards imports of manufactures,
the textile committee suggests that a
special tariff regime be applied to i'm
ports from Germany and Austria Hun
gary for each period as may be deter
mined by considerations of national
policy. The committee also recon-
mends, with regard to other countries,
that distinction be made between the
Allies and neutrals in favor of the
Allies. Thus, as regards silk goods,
for instance, a tariff is suggested in
respect of the Allies of Is per cent ad
valorem and in respect of neutrals
from 20 to 25 per cent, subject to
reciprocal arrangement. In respect of
enemy countries 40 per cent would be
required.
The recommendations say further
that every endeavor should be made to
coordinate the economic policy of the
United Kingdom with that of the do
minions and the empire generally; that
customs duties should be imposed upon
all imported iron and steel and manu-
factures thereof; that there should be
maximum general and minimum tariffs
applicable according to the changing
demands of the national policy; that
foreign syndicates and their accredited
or unaccredited representatives should
carry on commercial and industrial ac-
tivities in the United Kingdom only
under license from the government
and that the government should con-
slider the advisability Of with holding
bunkering facilities within the empire
from shipping lines giving unfair
freight preferences against British
goods