The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-17 00:00:00

THE COAL TRADE.

(Front the Times' City Article.)
The following communication relates to the argu-
ments likely to be attempted against abandoning
our right to place an export duty on coal. It fur-
nishes some statistics of the French trade in that
article, and points to the fact that any measures on
our part to restrict th• supply or enhance the cost
would be self defeating, both in an economical and
political sense. It is true that on the question of
export duties much misconception prevails, many
persons imagining that such duties must in all cases
be inexpedient, whereas in a moderate shape, and
for purposes of revenue, they offer under certain
conditions a highly eligible field. The most indis-
pensable of these conditions, however, is that the
article should be one that is not produced in other
countries, since otherwise by taxing our own com-
modity we should simply to that extent offer a
bounty to competitors. Coal does not come into this
category, extensive fields of various qualities, from
the highest to the lowest, existing in almost every
part of the world. Hence there need be no regret
that the idea of preserving an exclusive stock has
been disregarded. With respect to the apprehen-
sion of various calculators, that the coal in England
is only enough to last for some period ranging be-
tween 1,200 and 300 years, the majority of the
public will, perhaps, feel little anxiety, preferring
to entertain sufficient faith in the advancement of
humanity and science to believe that we may allow
all mankind to share our present advantages with-
out any danger of the world in future ages finding
itself destitute of requisite means for the production
of light and heat :

Feb. 14.

" Sir,—Will you kindly allow me to place before the
public a few facts with reference to the coal trade of France,
of which our legislators appear to be either ignorant or for-
getful ?
" Mr. Horsmau apprehends much danger may arise from
that clause of the French treaty which restrains the English
Government from placing an export duty on coal. He in-
stances a not improbable event—that France may be en-
gaged in a war in which England is neutral, and that the
former might by blockading her enemy's ports—say, the
Austrian ports in the Adriatic, or the Russian ports in th(
Baltic—prevent them from obtaining our coal, while she
could supply herself with one of the most essential articles
of modern naval warfare. This is only saying, in other
words, that France in all contests save with England would
have the command of the sea. To neutralise this advantage
due to the French navy Mr. Horsman would reserve the
power of imposing an export duty on, or exercise the right
of declaring coal contraband of war. The argument that
if we had not this power we might, instead of being neutral,
actually be taking the part of France, by supplying her with
a necessary article of war, is of no value whatever, because
the opposite argument is equally valid, that by refusing to
supply ker with fuel we are aiding her opponent, in destroy-
ing the efficiency of her navy.
" These arguments could only have weight on either side
upon the supposition that France could only obtain her
fuel from England. To show that this is not the case it
will only be necessary to state the actual facts as to her
present coal supply, due chiefly to the crafty policy of the
Citizen King.' The import duties on coals into France
have heretofore been regulated according to an artificial
arrargement of zones. The northern zone, as I may call it,
has its south bounday on the coast of Dunkirk. The cen-
tral zone extends from Dunkirk to Sables d'Olonno, in
Vendee. The southern zone embraces all the rest of France
to the Spanish frontier.
" Disregarding for the present the coals which enter
France by the Meuse, and only pay If. a ton, as exceptional,
the duties exigible in these zones are respectively as fol
lows :