Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-11
P[ AN FOR CONTROL
OF RAW MATERIALS
Allied Co. Operation After the
War Is Being Discussed
in England.

Allied control of raw materials after
the war is perhaps receiving more
serious attention from the British
cording to advices received by the
bureau of foreign and domestic COM
merce.
Phillip B. Kennedy, American COM
mercial attache at London, in re-
port to Washington officials, says
that after the British government
has perfected with the dominion gov
ernments plan for obtaining con-
oire, it is expected that representa-
lions will be made to the United
States and other allied countries for
some common action.
Important meetings of the imperial
war conference and the imperial war
cabinet were held in LONDON during
July, he says, at which prime min
listers and others representing the
domtnions were present. The con-
ference is a deliberative body which
reports it's decisions to the CABINET
a more executive organization. CUES
tons of imperial policy were dis
cussed at the meetings, which were
regarded of unusual authority be-
cause Of the prominence of the con-
forces.
Report Of Committee on Methods.
A special committee OF tho confer
enoe was appointed to consider the
best methods by which essential raw
materials may be controlled, and
Bonar Law. chancellor OF the ex-
chequer, has informed parliament
the dominion representatives for the
control Of materials are to be the
basis for beginning negotiations with
other countries.
Close imperial cooperation in mat
ters of economic policy Is favored oy
Ing from their utterances. Mr.. Ken
nedy reports. He adds that Australia
and New Zealand are interested IN re-
tanning the German colonies IN tho
Pacific and in combating German
trade after the war.
laws similar to the British non-ferrous
metal industries act. which makes 1t
necessary to obtain licenses to trade
in metals, Such legislation is de-
signed to free the British empire from
dependence on German controlled or
ganization.
Another important resolution adopt
ed by the conference is understood to
have asked the dominions to cooper
ate with the imperial government in
protecting the developing British aye
The conference also considered
questions relating to the development
Of inter-empire trade, such as trans
port, news service, parcel post, sta
tistics and emigration. Improved
steamship connection between Great
Britain and the dominfons was
news service at cheaper cable tolls,
and coming from a strictly British
source. A statistical bureau was pro-
posed for London, which would COM
pile and transmit information from
different parts Of the empire. Con-
troll of emigration after the war also
was discussed.
Although the dominion representa-
tives desire immediate consideration
of the important questions relating
to the close cooperation OF different
parts of the empire. Mr.. kennedy
POINTS out that 1t Is not certain that
the British government will be pre-
pared to perfect finally program of
future economic policy during the
war He says Mr.. Law regards this
problem one for solution after the
war.
None Of the meetings openly dis
cussed a preference tarin. according
favored by many. but the tariff ques-
ton Is yet an issue in the United
Kingdom on which there is not unity
Of opinion. The old free-trade senti-
ment in the liberal party is evidently
unchanged. and the labor party is
seemingly opposed to any policy
which would affect cheap food and
cheap raw materials. The latter also
has committed itself to resolutions
favoring an open door economic pol
icy after the war as the best way OF
guaranteeing future peace. Before
the United Kingdam can come to q
definite decision on the tariff probably
the issue will have to be Joined by the
conflicting interests, according to re-
ports received here, and this may be
something the government will not
care to bring up during the war.