Dear Mr. Bruce,

AUSTRALIAN TARIFF CHANGES [1]

I enclose the leading article in the 'Times Trade Supplement'
dealing with this subject and may mention that the 'Trade
Suplement' re-printed my article from the 'Times Daily' on the
Tariff changes. [2] I sent you a copy of this article last mail.

Manchester is making a good deal of fuss about the proposed
changes on cotton tweeds. In your cuttings you will receive copies
of a letter signed by Shepherd [3], which I prepared and thought
most effective if used officially. So far as I can see, the
proposed tariff on cotton tweeds will inflict really severe
hardship on two or three small Lancashire firms and may even lead
to their having to close down their works, thus affecting the
employment of a certain number of men.

As you know how very strong the free trade sentiment and
propagandists are in Lancashire, I wonder whether you would not
think it desirable, as an act of grace, to arrange for a six
months' suspension of this proposed duty in order to enable the
severely hit manufacturers to get rid of their stock for which
they say there is no demand except in Australia.

COLONIAL ECONOMIC POLICY

I enclose copy of an article which appeared in the 'Times Trade
Supplement' of 12.9.25, dealing with this subject and especially
commenting on your statement that 'the first report of the
Imperial Economic Committee marked the end of the first round of
the fight for Imperial Preference'. I have no doubt that you will
recognise that this article was written under my direct
inspiration and I hope that you will agree with the two concluding
Paragraphs. [4]

RUSSIAN CONDITIONS

I am enclosing copy of a very interesting letter which appeared in
the 'Times' of 15.9.25 under the title of 'Prius Dementat'. I
think that you will find this both interesting and useful and I
especially draw your attention to the portion marked. [5]

LABOUR AND EMPIRE ECONOMICS

I enclose a cutting from the 'United Empire' for September which I
arranged for with the Editor of that Journal. [6] In this
connection I should like to draw your attention to a letter which
I have just this minute received from Tom Johnston [7], M.P. for
Dundee, and one of the stalwarts of the Clyde. I had sent him a
case of Australian dried fruit with a letter commenting on labour
conditions in Australia as compared with Greece and Smyrna. I
think you will find his letter in reply of quite especial
interest. His idea is that it is possible for the British
Parliamentary Labour left wing to counter Russian propaganda by
drawing attention to the growth of labour ideals under democratic
Government within the British Empire.

This letter will emphasize the point that I made in my
communication of September 3rd about the importance of really
effective Labour men being included in the Empire Parliamentary
Association's visit to Australia next year.

Yours sincerely,
F. L. MCDOUGALL

(Handwritten]

P. S. I also enclose an interesting cutting from Johnston's
Glasgow paper.