Berlin, Sept. 16, Figures made ble to-day show that Germany's imports for the current and at only a little more than half the figure reached for the corresponding period a year ago, Anxiety is expressed here by observers of developments in Great Britain which seem now to be heading inevitably towards the imposition of a tariff upon imports in order to reduce the adverse balance of trade from which Great Britain as well as Germany is suffering. It is felt that this will simply mean yet one more in-gradient added to Germany's financial crisis, for it will be a fresh restriction upon her export trade—Through Reuter. come some' form of final "quietus"! in connection with all payments of reparations and war debts.
Ate, Philip Snowden, the Chancel lor of the Exchequer, replied {0 the judger, debate. He said that discussion of the gold standard and the analysis of the trade position had been barren of any practical suggestions or remedies. Then, dealing with tariffs, he said if their purpose was soto restrict iitports to redress the trade balance, they would have to be utterly prohibitive under present—conditions. No one seriously could contemplate an "emergency tariff", for any tariff When once introduced lasted for years, Sept. 16.
Discussion in the House of Commons upon the Budget resolutions: was resumed to-day.
By 274 votes to 143 the House adopted the resolution increasing the duty on beer by a penny per pint. One prohibitionist member of the House voted against the resolution, stating that his loyalty to the Labour Party outweighed his proancial Secretary to the Treasury said that no extra duty on wine was being proposed because experience showed that any increase resulted in people dropping the habit of drinking it, Further resolutions were _approved, including the increased taxes on petrol and tobacco. Mr. Philip Snowden, Chancellor of the Exchequer, then' moved a resolution jan ending the law relating to the National Debt to enable the Treasury to tackle, when circumstances are favourable, the conver-+Sion of the huge block of £2,000,000,- 1000 6 per cent. War Loan. He said. that he was seeking special legislative powers because the conversion Joperation would be an exceptional one, but that it was not to be assumed that all, the powers 50 granted would be exercised.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.