Salesman Howe and Salesman Wilson
Nine days ago the President of the Board of Trade was shaking his head over the prospects for British imports from Canada—as well he might. Canadian exports to this country already vastly exceed British exports to Canada. Dollars are short, and they have suddenly grown much shorter with the American decision that ER-P. funds will not be available for British purchases in Canada. If Mr. Howe, the Canadian Minister of Trade, had come here as a salesman his task could hardly have been harder. He could not even promise that there would be compensating Canadian pur- chases of British goods. He pointed out that our prices were too high, and in one speech he gave a pretty plain hint that devaluation of the pound might help. Yet he went home with a broad smile on his face and orders for $25,000,00o worth of Canadian salmon, timber, flour and apples in his pocket. What do we get in return ? We certainly get the assurance that an effort is being made, in the face of very real difficulties, to maintain this essential link in Commonwealth trade. We can now be sure that, for the time being, the salmon-canners of British Columbia and the apple-growers of Nova Scotia, both of whom are mainly dependent on the British market, will not be driven out of business. But what of the Canadian purchases of British goods, which, by general agreement, must be increased if we are to maintain our imports front Canada ? All that has been said about that is that Mr. Howe has promised to help draw the attention of Canadians to the things which Britain has to sell. It would indeed have been difficult for him to promise• more than that, British prices being what they are. Moreover, the Canadian producers have not yet shown any signs of excessive jubi- lation over the new British purchases. That is the situation which now faces Mr. Harold Wilson, who has gone off to Canada on an official visit. Possibly what we get out of this interchange is an opportunity to prove that Mr. Wilson is a better salesman than .Mr. Howe.
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