Freer Trade with France The details of Mr. Runciman's Trade
Agreement with France are confidential pending definitive . signature. But it is known that it will end, if adopted, the long series of bickering trade reprisals_ between the two countries which have been piling up ever since Great Britain went off the gold standard. That is matter for whole-hearted congratulation. Though it is probable that France has suffered more by the conflict than we, and certain that, in our view, she was more responsible_ for its origin and continuance, there is no doubt that we too have lost heavily by the unnatural interruption, of our commerce with the greatest of our near neigh- hours in Europe. The demolition of barriers should help to revive industry in both countries, and to undo the very bad example which their development has been setting to the rest of the world. A difficult point arises, however, as to the interest of our agricultural and horticultural producers (with which we deal more fully in a later page). Nothing in the past handicapped English vegetable-growing and fruit-growing so much. as French competition skimming the cream off their markets.
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