14 MAY 1927, Page 2

The tariff problem, which is much the most impartial subject

before the Conference, has been tackled, b though all the delegates admit that the level of tariffs too high there is no sign yet of agreement upon a practi remedy. France has presented a scheme of fartis compensation, the object of which is to compensate the difference betimen costs of production in any coo and the costs of that country's competitors. This I nowhere. It is almost impossible to make trustw° leulations of comparative costs. Mr. W. T. Layton, on half of the British delegation, pointed out that the posal was in any case entirely inadequate, and that if e Conference could go no further than that Great itain might be forced to alter her fiscal policy. Mr. vton's use of this warning as a Free Trade argument II surprise many people, but it seems to have pro- ved an impression upon the Conference. • * * *