Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-06-29
TO BIND AN EMPIRE.
Business Men of the British
Empire in Council.
SIGNIFICANT MEETING AT LONDON

The Commercial Interests of the EN-
pire Under Discussion-The Colonies
DESTROYS OF Drawing Closer to the
Mother Country as Against the Rest
of the World in Commensurate
Adopted for Commercial Union-Par-
lament Dissolved and Election writs
Issued.
LONDON, June 29.-The second congress
OF the cham bers of commerce of the Brit
ish empire opened yesterday at 10 O'Clock
in the hall of the Merchant Tailors com
pany, one of the richest corporations in
Threadneedle street Sir John Lubbock,
president of the London Chamber of Com
merce presided, and assisted by the COM
mittee welcomed the delegates sent from
every portion of the empire. The bodies
represented in the congress include the
London Chamber of Commerce, the Biz
mlngham chamber, the chambers of Cam
terbury, New Zealand, Montreal, Winni-
peg, Capetown, Regina, Northwest Ter
ritory, Toronto, Trinidad, Sydney, Mad
ras, Georgetown, British Guinea Bonn
bay, Lagos and nearly all the rest of the
British empire. 1t is a most remarkable
gathering, and isregarded by the CONNER
Clal " OrIC as most important.
What the Colonies Think.
Its deliberations have distinct influ-
ence upon imperial politics. The remark
able lead taken in trade resolutions by the
colonies is generally commented upon. 1t
is certain that the colonies have never be-
fore adopted so strong tone in their sug-
gestlcns to the mother country, and their
present stand in this respect is thought to
be Chiefly influenced by the tariff laws of
the United States and determination to
insist upon steps for their own protection
and benefit. Conversations with the dele
gates from abroad show that thew feel that
the colonies have little to gain by their at
fachment to the British empire unless
some preference is given them in their
Nrade relations with England over foreign
countries.
Manitoba's View of the Case.
This feeling, though exhibited most
strongly by the Canadian delegates, is
generally shared, and expressions of it are
plainly manifest in the resolutions placed
on the agenda paper. One Of the most i'm
Portant resolutions is that offered by the
winnipeg board Of trade of Manitoba as
follows; Ehat in the opinion of this con-
gress the time has come, or is close at
hand, when the people of Great Britain
and dependencies of the empire for that
portion of their hreadstuffs which they
lind 1t necessary to import from year to
year. The rapid development of grain
production in Canada, India and
Australasia during the past ten
years clearly indicates that these
countries will soon have annually
an export surplus Of grain in excess of the
annual import demand of the British
Isles. and it will be altogether unneces-
sary for the latter to look for supplies to
foreign countries, and especially to those
whose tariff laws are so framed as to
strike especially at the trade interests of
Great Britain and British colonies. That
this congress sees the best method of secur-
ing this end by a system in the mother
country of tariff discriminating against
the grain and other food PRODUCES of for.
eign nations, and in favor of the import of
such goods from the colonies and Deepen
denotes, and similar discrimination by
the colonies and dependencies in connec-
ton with tariff on other goods required
TO be imported by them"
The First Act of the Congress
The first business transacted was the
adoption of a motion in favor of imperial
commercial union. Richard r. DobeIl.
Of the Quebec board of trade seconded the
motion. He deprecated the argument that
the United States of America by adopting
free trade might bring about the downfall
Of British trade
Opposing Free Trade Resolution.
One of the delegates named Medley Of
fered free trade resolution. Topper
moved an amendment declaring that free
trade would paralyze the trade of the Do
minion and place it at the mercy of the
United States. Donald Smith seconded
the amendment. and Mr.. Wood, of Hamil.
ton, was the only Canadian delegate who
opposed it. The debate was adjourned
before vote was reached