Morning journal and courier., 1893-03-01
ENGLAND opPosEs m.

The no ase OF Commons by q Large
Vote Decides That It wants No
More Monetary Conferences
LONDON, Feb. s5.-Sir Henry Thompson
moved In the house of commons to-day
that the British government should use its
influence to bring about an assembling Of
the International monetary conference
with the object of finding remedy for the
evils attended upon the divergence of
values between gold and silver. Sir Henry,
who Is director in several railways and
recognized as respectable authority ON
trade questions, argued that monometal-
ism was national misfortune, and that q
fixed bimetallic ratio was the sole remedy
for existing difficulties growing out of the
currency problem.
Samuel Montagu, liberal, well-known as
q member of the banking house of Samuel
Montagu & Co., earnestly supported Sir
Henry's motion, and argued In favor of
bimetallism. Other bimetallists also ad-
dressed the house In behalf of the pro-
position.
Mr.. Gladstone, In reply, reminded the
house that the International Monetary con-
ference met at the initiative of the United
States, and II would be an unprecedented
proceeding now to deprive America OF the
initiative. In the opinion of the govern
ment no plan yet proposed showed how It
was possible to change the standard of
value of Great Britain. He made an
elaborate exposition of the benefits of
monometallism and the dangers of bi-
metsllism.
Mr.. Chaplin, president of the board of
agriculture under the last Salisbury ad-
ministrAtion, supported the motion of Sir
Henry Meyzy.T Thompson. At the Brussels
conference, he said, Bertram CurrIe Brit
lab delegate) persistently and deliberately
did everything in his power to defeat the
objects of the meeting.
Sir William Vernon Haroourt, chancellor
of the exchecquer, repudiated Mr.. Chap
Inns charge against Mr.. Currie. The Brit
ish delegates, he said, had been almost the
only ones to support the American resolu-
ton In favor of extending the use of oliver.
From first to last bimetallism had been at
the bottom of the conference, as It was at
the bottom of the present debate. The
failure of the conference had been due to
the absence of all definite proposals.
If the United States should reconvene
the conference and submit definite propos-
ais, the British government would be
happy to send back their delegates, but
could not bs expected to provide a scheme
for the more extensive use of silver. He
pointed to the returns of the income tax
and death duties to prove the growth of
the sountry's wealth. He commended that
the agricultural depression, which was
largely responsible for the bimetsllistic
agitation, was only temporary. The mo-
ton before the house, he said, was intend |
ed to raise prices, an operation which the |
government could not undertake. as IL was |
outside It's province.
Mr.. Balfour. leader of the unionist op-
position, denied that he or any of his col |
leagues desired a monetary system which |
would raise prices. The fact was that |
the government had decided to do nothing
to remedy the present dullness, both in |
trade and agriculture.
Sir Henry Meyzy -Thompson's motion |
eventually was rejected by vote of 229 to |
148.
The announcement of the vote was re-
oeived with loud liberal cheers. |