Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-27

Protection and free trade, debated ai
the British Empire conference, appear
in American comment 10 mark cross
roads in English commercial history
The spirited controversy is believed To
indicate that the future policy may be
definitely linked with the fate of parties
and with the relations between the
British Isles and the several domtn-
ions. A compromise, IN the nature OF
| a plan similar to that of the Farm
Board in this country, is considered as
| factor.
Observing that the people Of that
country have been dreaming hazily OF
abandoning their historic policy Of free
trade and promoting an empire customs
union, o plan hitherto referred to as
empire free trade" the Des Moines
Register voices the view that the plan
has not had undivided support from
any enc of the three parties" and offers
the conclusion as to the uncertainties
fusal of the Labor party to approve Q
tax on food will lead to the downfall
of the Macdonald cabinet, but this Is
unlikely, since the Conservative party
is itself divided on this problem and
since most of the Conservative leaders
know that there is no quick cure-all for
England's economic malady and would
tust as soon let some one else do the
doctoring at present They know that
the British Empire-and practically the
whole world, for that matter-is suffer-
ing from agricultural and industrial
overproduction, and that until this
oyerproduction is curbed there will still
be poor trade and much unemploy-
ment."
A factor which is emphasized by the
Elmira Gazette Is that Soviet
Russia is taking advantage Of the
British policy of free trade to dump
heavy supplies of products into the
English market at prices which, 1t Is
admitted, are below the possibility OF
competition on the part OF British
Isles farmers" while the Kalamazoo
Gazette says on the subject of "retaiia-
ton" which is considered by the gov
ernment's spokesman: They fear that
If the empire were to raise its tarins
far above their present average level
and allow systematic concessions among
its own units, non-British nations
would be quick to reply in kind. 1t Is
their contention that the economic
gains thus effected within the empire
would be more than Offset by the loss
of world markets. For the most part
the Conservative elements in Great
Britain do not subscribe to this view,
out lean StroilSly COWdIu IAic PASACASh
tiar program"
\ +
Emphasis upon the desire for empire
unity is placed by the Hamilton On
tario Spectator, which holds that the
effort to discover a workable basis for
cooperation, for the benefit Of the en-
pire as a whole and all its separate
parts, is a proof of the strength OF the
imperial tie" The Spectator concludes:
IF the desired result cannot be secured
by the adoption of any particular plan
of economic unity, other and more Ell
fective plans would be tried. The de-
termination Of the British people 10
make the most Of their heritage Will
find the right path to the fulfillment OF
their great vision it is to be discovered
by free discussion, by submission OF all
the viewpoints, and careful considera-
ton of a common policy"
Sharp division on the tar1n issue"
in the next English elections is fore
seen by the ST. Louis Post Dispatch
with the Liberals and Labor opposing
the Conservative move toward protec-
tionism" That paper says that Labor
is willing to make concessions to the
Dominion demands" and describes the
proposal for the creation of state pur-