Dear Mr. Bruce,

As I stated in my last letter I do not propose to inflict long
letters upon you while the Election fight is in progress but will
merely note items of particular interest. [1]

LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE [2]

The meeting now in progress at Liverpool has effectively shown
that the Communists have not made much progress. MacDonald [3]
rent them heavily and appears to have gone a long way to re-
establish his personal ascendency.

Clynes [4] moved a series of Empire resolutions which were
attacked by the Communists but carried by overwhelming majorities;

Sexton [5], John Jones [6] and Haden Guest [7] all speaking well
in support of the British Commonwealth of Nations. I will obtain,
when published, a report of the Conference and forward you a
precis of the happenings so far as Empire is concerned. The
resolutions show a very marked advance in labour opinion which is
very gratifying.

I enclose an article from George Lansbury' [8] Weekly on 'Empire
Trade and Dried Fruits' which is of considerable interest.

IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE

The Chairman [9] is now back but shows no sign of desiring
immediately to proceed to work. I had a most interesting hour with
Cunliffe-Lister [10] about the work of the Committee. I urged that
it should be used more intelligently to survey the economics of
Empire and to prepare for a future Imperial Economic Conference
which might yield real results both for Great Britain and for the
Empire. Curiously enough the same day you are reported (in the
'Daily Telegraph') to have spoken at the Empire Press Conference
in the same strain. [11]

I understand Mr. Baldwin [12] may comment upon the work of the
Imperial Economic Committee at the Unionist Annual Conference at
Brighton next week. Anticipating this, I have been in touch with
the Cabinet Secretariat and have tentatively made one or two
suggestions which may be put before him.

GENERAL

There are a number of fresh moves in connection with Empire

progress in contemplation. The organization which Amery [13] and
Cunliffe-Lister intended to start a year ago is now actually on
the point of formation and I hope to be able to let you know
something about it in the course of the next few weeks.

Quite a different set of Conservative M.P.'s have formulated a
Body which they have the impertinence to describe as 'An Empire
Economic Council' and they are thinking about making suggestions
as to the Dominions and Colonies putting export taxes on raw
materials exported to countries other than Great Britain and that
the funds so raised should be used to further emigration and to
assist British agriculture. Although there may be some germ of
sense in the background of this proposal, it is of so hideously
dangerous a nature that I hope to be able to arrange that the
scheme with its title never sees the light of publicity. Please do
not make any reference to it.

I will write to you more fully about these matters when I know
more about them myself.

Yours sincerely,
F. L. MCDOUGALL