New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-23

II am impressed" he says, with the extreme i'm
portance Of securing as large a share as possible
of the mutual trade of the United Kingdom and
the Colonies for British producers and manu-
facturers whether located in the Colonies or In
the United Kingdom" That is practical mo-
tive and is not altogether a selfish one, so far
England is concerned Mr.. Chamberlain not
only wishes to know why certain classes OF
British manufactures have been undersold and
displaced in colonial markets, but he also asks
for a return of colonial products which might be
advantageously exported to the United Kingdom
or to other portions of the Empire. That he
will receive in reply great mass of valuable in
formation 1t would be safe to assume; but 1t
would be premature to conclude that anything
has been done to hasten the contamination Of
Imperial Federation.
Let me offer an illustration from one OF the
neglected estates OF the Empire. of which
rave personal knowledge from travel and pains
taking investigation. In the British West Indies
the tariffs have been arranged for the express
purpose Of taxing imported manufactures light
" and imported food heavily. That has been In
violation Of the Golden principle of cheapening
food supplies, but 1t has operated to encourage.
so far as possible. the importation OF manu-
features from the United Kingdom. If German
traders have entered those markets and displaced
to some extent British manufactures, 1t has been
In consequence of their mercaptle Intelligence
and OF the lower cost Of the products or cheaper
labor They are becoming the chief rivals OF
English merchants in the markets OF the world,
and the returns made to the Colonial Office in re-
Spouse 10 Mr.. Chamberlains circular will re-
veal the results Of their successful competition.
The returns will also disclose the fact that Eng
land offers an inadequate outlet for the tropical
produce Of those colonies, which is absorbed
mainly by the United States Their chief export
is sugar, which has been practically shut out
Of Europe through the extraordinary develop
ment of the beet industry. and can be sold on
large scale only in the American market. The
German Government is now proposing TO levy
an import duty foreign sugars, which is eX-
pected to yield s7S5OO9O annually, and $5OOooOo
drawn from this source is to be expended In trip
ling the bounties on beet sugar. If this scheme
be carried out in the interest Of German agrl-
culture nothing can be more probable thah q
vast increase in production and most destructive
connection in the markets OF the world, with
disastrous effects upon the cane industries of the
British West Indies.
CAN HE DO ANYTHING?
When Mr. Chamberlain receives his full budget
of information from those neglected estates,
what can he do that Will be of practical utility
in Increasing trade between them and the mother
country? Railways are not needed; cable facil-
tiles are ADEQUATE; no imperial grants for local
improvements can be suggested; the steamship
service is excellent. So long England retains
its present system Of unrestricted importation
from every quarter of the globe. It is powerless
either to repress the increasing activity and en-
terprise Of German traders or 10 protect the IN
dustries of its colonies when exposed to very Sc
rious competition If the proposed Berlin scheme
be carried into effect the increased bountes VIII
enable German beet producers to sell their sugar
to exporters at prices which will be ruinous 10
West Indian planters; and what can MI Cham-
berlain do in London to avert the disaster?
The illustration which have given has. per-
haps. distnctvely local application; but II
points to the general conclusion that the main
obstacle to Imperial Federation Is the free trade
system of the United Kingdom. One Of the best
informed experts in the English pubic service
said TO me not long ago: IF we had tarH IL
would be comparatively easy to establish
British Zollveren and to make reality OF what
is now dream-Imperial Federation" That was
a frank aduission from free trader, who made
all haste TO discla.m any desire TO have any
change introduced in the economic system Of
Great Britain; but II revealed the lnsuperapie
difficulties with which Mr. Chamberlain and his
successors in the Colonial Office will be con-
fronted in their attempts to bring about I'M
perial Federation. British farmers, who have
been compelled to emigrate TO the colonies by the
ruinous conditions of agriculture at home, have
little to expect from that grandose project so
long as the Home Government neglects TO protect
them against destructive competition ana to offer
,ba uhsfa al adV in he <
battle for a market l. y. +.