The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-07-20
DOMINIONS OF
BRITAIN FACE
TRADE CRISIS
Destiny of Empire Units in
Balance as Economic
Farley Opens.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS
Srrinns- Howard Foreign Editor

OTTAWA, July 20.-The destiny
OF more than one member Of the
British commonwealth of nations
will be at stake when, Thursday, in
the house Of commons, the imperial
economic conference will be opened
formally by the Governor-Genera
with a message from King George V
First, the future of Great Britain
itself is seen to hang upon the out
come. For unless she can bargain
with the dominions to win a larger
share OF their trade, there is grave
doubt whether she ever again viii
play the role of Titan among indus
trial nations which once was hers.
Second, before the conference ad-
iourns, Ireland may find herself
facing the cherries alternative OF
either abandoning her dream OF
complete independence, or accept
ing the prospect Of becoming an
isolated republic out in the Atlantlc
with a dark and doubtful future.
Counsel Less Haste
Third, Canada, Australia, New
Zealand, South Africa and the
other parts Of the empire similarly
will have to yield some of their
ambitions to become self-sustain-
ing nations. at least for the time
being. else give up their present
chance to profit by preferential
tariffs.
Great Britain will attempt to
show the dominions that they are
making a big mistake trying TO IN
dustrialize themselves too rapidly
Former Premier Stanley Baldwin
and almost half the British cabinet
are here to convince the domlnlons
of the economic error of undertak-
ing to force their manufactures
like exotic plants in dollhouse
The dominions will be urged to
cling awhile longer to the pro
duction of foodstufTs and raw ma
terials, and depend upon Britain
for the bulk OF their manufactured
goods.
The British Federation Of In
dustries has sent a strong dele
cation to support Baldwin along
these lines. They will advocate
taking a leaf out of Soviet Russia's
notebook and do some national
planning on an empire scale.
There is too much wasteful COM
petition within the empire, they
assert, and this, along with the
curse Of overproductiOn and low
prices, could, in a large measure
be avoided if the empire only
would plan and do what each men,
Der can do best and most econom-
ically.
Canada to Stand Firm
This may be sound economics, but
the dominions, it is here and now
predicted, will not go along with II
100 per cent. Canada, certainly
and the others in greater or lesser
degree, are impatient to go forward
industrially and commercially.
Canada makes no secret Of her
ambition to become one of the
worlds greatest industrial and eX-
porting nations. She will cede
nothing to the rest of the family
which will injure her chances in
this direction.
Her policy during the conference
will be to do everything she can to
increase the already steady flow OF
American industry to this side OF
the border
Irelands task today seemed the
most difficult of all. Sean T. O'Kelly
Irish vice president, makes no bones
of his governments determination
to sever all political ties with
Britain.
Yet he is here hunting new mar
kets for Irish goods-to arrange
preferential tariffs between his
country and the rest of the domin-
ions