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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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NEPILNICO.885/25
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON |
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SIR,
10
No. 5.
BRITISH GUIANA.
THE ACTING GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(No. 431.)
(Received 23rd January, 1917.)
Government House, Georgetown,
Demerara, 22nd December, 1916 In reply to your Circular despatch of the 20th [ ?25th] September last,* on the subject of the measures to be taken by His Majesty's Government to avoid any recur- rence of the dangers to which the Empire has been exposed by the growth of German trade and influence within it, I have the honour to state that I caused the despatch to be published and copies of it to be sent to the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce The Council of and the British Guiana Planters' Association for their views. the Chamber of Commerce has replied that, in its opinion, any policy to be followed should be an Imperial one, and should be initiated, controlled, and developed by an Imperial Parliament or other Imperial body, having full powers to give effect to its decisions. In considering the despatch the Council has also primarily considered it from the point of view of this Colony, and has submitted its views on the various questions as follows:-
(a) What industries are essential to the future safety of the nation; and what steps should be taken to maintain or establish them?
All industries which are necessary to any part of the Empire, whether already existent or whether desirable to create or foster; and protection for them if and when necessary. Facilities for proper emigration and immigration between all parts of the Empire to be encouraged and fostered by Imperial Parliament.
(b) What steps should be taken to recover home and foreign trade lost during the War, and to secure new markets?
Immediate steps should be taken to prevent dumping' after the War. Regular steamship communication with the United Kingdom and with Canada, subsidized if necessary. Study what has been done by Germany and the United States to develop their productivity and to foster and develop their trade. Examine Guarantee of the development of Cuba and Porto Rico by the United States. security to capital. Imperial Government should guarantee financial assistance for approved schemes for the development of the Colony. The metric system should be adopted throughout the Empire, and foreign languages should be made a special feature of the curriculum in all schools.
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(c) To what extent and by what means the resources of the Empire should,
and can, be developed.
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Closer political and commercial union within the Empire.
(d) To what extent and by what means the sources of supply within the Empire can be prevented from falling under foreign control.
"Total prohibition for a period after the War of direct and indirect importa- tions of enemy goods manufactured in enemy countries or by enemy subjects in neutral countries, and control generally of trade by Imperial Parliament." The Council of the Chamber of Commerce further recommends :-
or corporation of enemy (e) That no person, limited liability company, parentage or nationality should be allowed to own real estate, or to hold, explore, or work Crown or other land within the Colony at any time, or to carry on any business or trade in the Colony for twenty-five years, without the special permis- sion of the Governor in Council, except such persons, companies, or corporations as have been allowed to trade here uninterruptedly during the War.
(f) That, in the event of any permission as above being given by the Governor in Council, the majority, say two-thirds, of interest or shares, bonds, etc., in such undertakings should be held by British-born subjects, and that the majority of any Board of Directors should also be British-born subjects.
(g) That vessels of each allied or neutral country should receive only the same treatment in British waters as British vessels receive in a port of each allied or nentral country respectively. German shipping to be excluded from ports of the Empire for a period, and after that period entry only under disabilities as compared with British, allied, or neutral shipping.
* No. 1.
11
() Major industries, such as coal, iron, oil, sugar, cotton, rubber, etc., etc., within the Empire should be owned or controlled as far as possible by British-born subjects only.
2. The British Guiana Planters' Association has informed me that, having had before them the views of the Chamber of Commerce as above expressed, the Association is in entire agreement with them; and the Executive Council which considered this matter on the 12th instant is also in agreement with the Chamber of Commerce.
3.
On the 19th July last the following resolution was moved in Combined Court by an Elective Member, with regard to the introduction of a system of preferential trade within the Empire:-
"Whereas the European War, so wantonly and shamefully engineered and launched by the German nation for the avowed purpose of prosecuting its own designs of world-power, has shown the grievous dependence of the United Kingdom upon her enemies for the supply of certain raw materials produced by enemy countries, thus tending to aid them and not the British Empire:
Be it resolved: That this Court, in unswerving and steadfast loyalty to the Throne and Empire, respectfully asks His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government to urge upon His Majesty's Government the necessity of introducing at the earliest date possible a system of preferential trade within the Empire, that thereby sufficient protection may be afforded in the markets of the United Kingdom to the products of this Colony, in order to enable trade in British produce to be placed upon so thoroughly sound and independent a footing as to drive the trade of the enemy from the United Kingdom, and, further, that adequate measures be taken to counteract bounties and to obviate any dumping at the end of the War of the surplus produce of foreign countries on the markets of the United Kingdom, including sugar, the staple product of this Colony.
"And that this Court pledges itself not only to reciprocate such pro- tection, but to undertake, in whatever way may be deemed most suitable by His Majesty's Government, to assume in future such share of the defence of the Empire as the finances of the Colony and its situation will allow." 4. With regard to the first part of the resolution as to the introduction of a system of preferential trade within the Empire. I desire to say that, notwith- standing the dislocation of trade due to the War, the preferential tariff existing between British Guiana and Canada has proved a benefit to this Colony, and it is felt by local business men, and especially by the sugar planters, that, placed as British Guiana is in closer (and consequently quicker and cheaper) communication with the United States of America than with the trading centres of the British Empire, it is only by means of reciprocal trade arrangements that the keen com- petition of highly organized foreign trade can be successfully combated.
5. It is, of course, realized that the problem of trade reorganization must await the end of the War and that the interests of an individual Colony must be subordinate to those of the Empire as a whole. The intention of the resolution is, therefore, to express the anxious desire of this Colony to participate in any reciprocal trade relations within the Empire which may thereafter be considered practicable by His Majesty's Government, and at the same time to affirm its loyal desire to share in the cost of defending the Empire in so far as the finances of the Colony and its situation will allow.
I have, &c..
B
C. CLEMENTI, Officer Administering the Government.
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