read the following:—
April 25th, 1922.
Consuls.—Since the last report from this Department was presented to the Dáil an additional Consul has been appointed, namely, Mr. Charles Bewley, B.L., who has taken up duty in Berlin. Mr. Seán O Duinn who was appointed to Rotterdam almost a year ago and who, after great delay, got his passport, only to be refused a Dutch visa, remained until the signing of the Treaty without much prospect of being able to get to his póst. He has now, however, been informed by the Dutch authorities that the visa will be given. It is noteworthy that, as a result of the Treaty, the work of our Consul has been greatly facilitated by the more cordial attitude of foreign officials and by the increased tendency of foreign manufacturers, merchants and shippers to come to them for consultation and advice. During the past three months we have had intelligence of numerous plans for the development of direct trade and direct freight services with Ireland. Most of these schemes were started in the belief that we were about to have settled conditions and an internationally recognised Government with power to make tariff and trade agreements, and there is naturally a tendency to hold them up for the present.
Prohibition of British Goods.—The orders prohibiting the importation and sale of various classes of British goods were part of a policy too rigid and arbitrary to be really sound economically or to be justifiable except to meet a wartime emergency. Pending the completion of evacuation the orders have not been revoked, but recently a certain number of permits have been granted for limited quantities of goods.
Commission of Inquiry.—The work of the Commission of Inquiry is practically completed. The offices occupied by the Commission have been given up and the services of the staff have been dispensed with. In addition to the Reports already issued the Reports on Peat and WaterPower are in proof and the Report on Milk Products should be out this week. There remains to be drawn up only a short final General Report of the work of the Commission.
Three typewriters and a "Gestetner" duplicating machine belonging to the Commission were seized by armed men on 31st March and, it is understood, conveyed to a house in Parnell Square occupied by a section of the Army hostile to Dáil Éireann.
Industrial Position.—Almost all Irish industries are at present feeling very keenly the pressure of foreign competition. In many cases the pressure comes principally from countries with depreciated exchanges. Protection cannot be afforded by means of voluntary preference, one of the reasons being that except under influence of strong feelings produced by actual war conditions, only a comparatively small section of the people will exercise discrimination. Propagandist appeals have some effect but give a constantly diminishing return. Until it is possible to put into operation a carefully considered Customs Tariff which will prevent dumping and afford to industries that have not yet been able to root themselves firmly the temporary shelter they require, it is practically futile to talk of industrial development; and of course a tariff would be of little value if we were to have anarchical conditions within it.
During the present year the Department has been in touch with representatives of all commercial and industrial interests in a way that was not previously possible. The unanimous opinion is that the best way to serve the country economically is not so much by attempting to deal with economic problems now as by getting the Treaty through.