South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-09-12
DISCUSS ALLIED
CONTROL Of ALL
RAW MA ERIALS
British Give Serious Attention
to important Economic
Phase of Peace.

war Is perhaps receiving more serj- F..
Gus attention from the British than
any other postwar policy accord +
ing 10 advices received by tn" ,
bureau of foreign and domestic .
commerce.
Phillip B Kennedy, American I
commercial attache at London, in 7
report TO Washington officials. says .
that after the British government 4
has perfected with the dominion .
governments "A plan for obtaining /
control of materials IN the British !
empire. it is expected that represen- ]
tations will be made 10 the United 1
States and other allied countries for
some common action.
Important meetings of the inn
perial war conference and the i'm
perial war cabinet were held in Lon
don during July, he says, at which
prime ministers and others repre-
senting the dominions were present.
The conference is deliberative
body which reports its decisions TO
the cabinet, a more executive or
ganization Questions OF imperial
policy were discussed at the meet
ings which were regarded Of un-
usual authority because of the
prominence OF the conferees.
Name special Committee.
A special committee of the con-
ference was appointed 10 consider
the best methods by which essential
raw materials may be controlled.
and Bonar Law. chancellor of the
exchequer. has informed parliament
that arrangements being made with
the dominion representatives for the
control of materials are to be the
basis for beginning negotiations with
other countries.
Close imperial cooperation i'm
matters of economic policy is fav-
ored 10y the dominion representa-
tives. Judging from their utterances,
Mr. Kennedy reports. He adds that
Australian and New Zealand are in
terested i'm retaining the German
colonies i'm the Pacific and in COM
batting German trade after the war.
The domiuions were asked TO pass
law similar TO the British non-fer-
rous metal industries act. which
makes il necessary TO obtain licenses
10 trade i'm metals. Such legislation
is designed TO free the British en-
pire from dependence on German
controlled organization.
Protect Dye Industry.
Another important resolution
adopted 10y the conferences under
stood to have asked the dominions
10 cooperate with the imperial gov
eminent in protecting the develop
ing British dye industry.
The conference also considered
questions relating 10 the develop
ment Of inter empire trade, such ds
transport. news service. parcel post
statistics and emigration. Improved
steamship connection between Great
Britain and the dominions was fav-
ored. also as more comprehensive
news service at cheaper cable tolls
and coming from a strictly British
source. 4 statistical bureau was pro-
posed for London. which would
compile and transmit Information
from different parts of the empire.
Control of emigration after the war
also was discussed.
Although the dominion represen-
tatiyes desire immediate considera
ton of the important questions re-
lating 70 the close cooperation of
different parts OF the empire Mr.
Kennedy points out that is it not
certain that the British government
will be prepared 20 perfect finally
a. program of future economic policy
during the war He says Mr.. Law re-
CARDS this problem one for solution
after the war.
Tariff Not Discussed.
None Of the meetings openly dis
cussed a preference tariff. accordinc
to Mr.. Kennedy. Such a policy is
favored by many, bat the tariff ques-
tion is yet an issue i'm the united
/ kingdom on which there is not unity
Of opinion. The old free-trade SEN
timent in the Liberal party is evil
IDENTIFY unchanged and the labor
party is seemingly opposed of any
policy which would affect cheap
food and cheap raw materials. The
/ latter also has committed itself To
resolutions favoring an open door
economic policy after the war as the
4 best way of guaranteeing future
+ peace Before the united kngdoEl
can come 10 a definite decision on
/ the tariff probably the issue viii
have TO be Joined by the conflicting
interests. according TO reports re-
ceived here. and this may be some
thing the government viii not care
| 70 bring I'D during the lrar-