1932 Imperial Economic Conference, 1932-1933

 
Component identifier:
Series 57
Content Summary:

The Imperial Economic Conference met in Ottawa in July-August 1932, the Australian delegates being S. M. Bruce and H. S. Gullett. It followed the passing of the British Import Duties Act in February 1932 and its object was 'the promotion of intra-Empire trade and the consummation of a closer economic union between the British Nations'. The Conference dealt with trade, customs administration, commercial relations with foreign countries, monetary and financial questions, and economic co-operation. Fifteen trade agreements were signed at the conclusion of the Conference.

This small series contains correspondence, dating from April-July 1932, which Latham had with British and Australian Ministers when he was in London. It deals with the approaching Ottawa Conference, press leakages concerning pre-Ottawa negotiations, imperial trade, the Australian tariff, British preference, trade with the Dutch East Indies and relations with other countries. The correspondents include J. A. Lyons, C. A. S. Hawker, F. L. McDougall, S. Baldwin and J. Ramsay MacDonald. In addition, there are reports of the Conference, memoranda on imperial economic consultation, imperial co-operation in agricultural, scientific and economic research, and problems and possibilities at Ottawa, and some newscuttings.

Comprises Files 1-2 (Items 1-139).

Immediate source of acquisition:
The bulk of the collection was presented to the National Library by Sir John Latham in December 1963, a few months before his death. In November 1974 the Library purchased some further papers from a secondhand book dealer. They comprised family letters and photographs, some diaries and papers relating to the High Court. These papers have been amalgamated into the original collection.

Access and use

Parent Restrictions:
Available for research. Not for loan.
Parent Terms of Access:
Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.
Location of this collection:
Parkes Place
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
Contact: