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COUNCIL MEETING
FIVE Therefore this Bili, so far as checking the enemy's trade is concerned, is not worth considering. They can carry on businesa almost in the same way as if no war was on, except that certain markets will be closed to them because of the blockade and
so on
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-Local partners will have to dissociate themselves from firms in Germany before they can carry on local trade. They cannot carry on traue here in the name of the old firm; they will have to adopt a purely local name to trade in this territory.
Hon. Mr. HtwETT-Exactly.
That I understand, has been done in the case of one firm here, and when this Bill comes into operation, and this proclamation which we see for the first time, no doubt a large number of German firms will take advantage of it and carry on their busi- ness just as if no war was in existence, except that they cannot do business with Germany. Therefore I think what the Attorney-General says more than ever strengtheus my opposition to the policy of His Imperial Majesty's Government. We think this is wrong, although I know perfectly well, despite what we say and despite every protest we make, that this Bill will become law. But it is only right that I should protest against it. The Attorney-General made some reference to sale of business of an enemy. I believe one firm has sold its business. Now, there
has been a a great deal of discussion, & your Excellency is perfectly well aware, about the question of the transfer of ships since hostilities broke out to an alien flag. We know perfectly well that protests were made on all sides by various belligerent powers to the American Government for authorising certain transfers. It seems to me that any sale of business from a firm to a senior clerk or a friend since war
broke out is equal to the sale of a ship. Of course, it may be urged that papers could be produced to show that the sale is perfectly bona fide, that chief clerk certain firm had purchased from his seniors their business, and that he paid hard cash for it and so on. But this sort of information can easily be arranged, and I should say myself that the transfer
of
of
it
I such business would be equally as wrong as the transfer of a ship of the German flag, to the flag of either Holland, Sweden, Norway or America, or whatever the neutral country might be, and I think
should be the business of the Govern
to see that such transfers are not made. At the moment that is all that occurs to ine. As I say, I am very heavily handicapped. I have not had time to consider the first printed Bill, which only reached me a few hours ago, and I have
no had an opportunity of using this
question fully with my
col-
leagues. But, as I stated in my opening remarks, we cannot possibly see the reces sity of rushing this Bill through at five minutes' notice. I think we should have had the 48 hours for consideration which the hon. member opposite (Hon. Mr. Pollock) asked for. Then the unofficial members might come forward with more concrete arguments against it. I have spoken on the spur of the moment, and trust I have made my case clear. I am perfectly certain that the unofficial mem- bers will endorse what I have said, and trust the merchants will also agree. It must be distinctly understood that I do no wish in any way to do harm to our very good friends in the past by trying to cripple their business. It is not a question of individual feeling or friend- ship but it is a question of our fighting for our existence, and one or the other has got to go under. Therefore we have got to fight not only with our hands, but with our feet too, and we have got to cripple the enemy in every way we can, and I am surprised that it is the policy of His Majesty's Government to allow these people to carry on their competition and their trade. We should not allow this competition with us to continue.
Hon. Mr. LANDALS-Sir, I would like to explain that my reason for voting against this Bill this afternoon is entirely due to want of time to allow us to cop- sider its provisions. I have no wish to take this opportunity of vetoing any facilities which the Government may wish to give to those who are probably com- petitors, or to make the lot of German merchants here any harder than it is. This Bill may be very necessary or it may not I have not had time to consider it, but I must register my protest againat this Council being turned into a mere machine, and being asked to pass billa which they know very little about, and have not had time to consider.
HIS EXCELLENCY-Gentlemen, I do not think that the giving of further time would have helped either the member who represents the Chamber of Commerce or the member who represents the Justices of the Peace in any way, because they seem to be completely opposed the principle of the Bill, and therefore whether wo postpore it for a day, or a week, or a month, I assume the position would be just the same. The hon. member who last spoke has made a very much more valid
the
objection-the want of time. I have already explained why I desired to press forward this measure, and I would have thought that what has passed in the Coun- cil would have sufficiently explained the objects of the measure to him. I am very sorry that I cannot accede to the sugges tion
lo give further time, because the matter is pressing very much. Now, hon. member who represents the Justices of the Peace asks whether I can give him any information as to how British merchants in enemy country are treated, I am sorry to say I cannot, and I do not think it affects the question. I do not suppose for one moment that his Majesty's Govern- ment ever considered whether there was auy reciprocity in this matter or whether there was no His Majesty's Government has recently in a dramatic manner shown that they do not drive bargains; and I believe it is a fundamental principle of our Foreign Office not to bargain. What is much more likely to have weighed with His Majesty's Govern ment in consideration of the best tenets of
པ International law, and also, perhaps, consideration for that very tickle creature called trade. It is all very well to talk about killing the enemy's trade and depleting his treasury, but we want to keep our treasury full. Also, as you know, trade is many-sided. It is possible, if you interfere unduly with it, and cut off many of its channels you may find yourself, instead of being the richer, 息 good deal the poorer. But it is not my concern to seek from what sources the policy of His Majesty's Government flows. I would
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