THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DOMINIONS 481
from duties despite the imposition of tariffs generally, Chapter
that the British market would for domestic reasons
remain open to them without serious counter-conces-
sions. Moreover, Russian dumping was bitterly resented
by Canada, which desired the British Government to
assimilate its attitude to that of Canada and to refuse
entry to goods produced under unfair conditions of
competition. In the end pressure of the desire to be
able to assert success in the negotiations led, on August
20, 1932, save in the case of the Irish Free State, to
agreements, largely in favour of the Dominions, at the
expense of the United Kingdom, and to a certain
amount of inter-Dominion concessions. It must, how-
ever, be admitted that in the framing of the compact
with Canada so much friction was engendered that it
illustrates the grave dangers of seeking to base inter-
imperial co-operation on trade considerations. The
Dominions have found among themselves that trade is
apt to lead to tension of relations when in lieu of volun-
tary preferences a balance of advantage falls to be
struck between the parties.
The Ottawa agreements, as far as concerns the Do-
minions, rest on the basis that they will maintain
existing British preferences, and will also consider
seriously the reduction of their tariffs so as to secure
British manufactures the possibility of competition on
reasonable terms. Access to the Tariff Boards of Canada
and Australia will be accorded to British manufac-
turers, though the value of this concession is problem-
atic, especially in Canada, where the object of creating
the Board was to secure fuller protection for home
industry. In any case, the Dominions will protect such
local undertakings as they think capable of successful
2 I