The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-02-22
4 VICTORY FOR THE LIBERALS.
SIR HENRY JONES. MOTION LOST ny
4 VOTE OF 3oa TO 100.


An Effort 10 secure Postponement Of
the Consideration of the Motion
Resulted in FafIure-Sfr Henry
James Follows the Introduction OF
His Motion With a Long speech
Reviewing the History OF the In
dian TariEs.
London, Feb. 2f.-In the House OF Com
mons this afternoon Sir Francis Henry
Evans liberal member of parliament for
Southampton, asked that the papers in
reference to the recent crisis in New
foundlaRd be submitted TO the House.
sydney Buxton. under colonial secretary.
declined TO produce the papers at the
present time and stated further that they
would not be submitted until the commu-
nicauons between the home government
and that of the colony should have been
completed
air Evans said" That implies that moth
ins viii be communicated to the House
tin the present grave distress has been
passed? This / hope viii not be the case.
as many members are d9sirous Of get
ting Information on the subject"
Mr. Evans then asked If MIR. Buxton
would not consider his decision in the
matter A1r. Buxton said he would in
quire whether it would be advisable in
the interim to supply the information
asked for.
Mr.. Balfour was not present at this
evenings sitting and efforts We're made
to postpone consideration Of Sir Henry
James motion to adjourn the House to
direct attention TO the Indian cotton du-
ties.
Sir William Harcourt was approached
ON the subject and fatty refused to delay
matters, the government. ne said, desir-
ing an Immediate discussion of the House
upon the question.
Sir Henry James then introduced his
motion to adjourn the House tor the
purpose of calling attention 90 the Indian
cotton duties In support of the motion
he said there had always been a feeling
i'm Lancashire that am import duty in
India was a lead weight to the trade
lie then proceeded to review the history
of Indian tariffs since an early period
OF the present century.
Prior TO the Introduction of the motion
Sir Edward Grey, replying to MIR La
bouchere, said the government had re-
Gently sounded the governments Of the
powers and the United States in regard
to the bringing about of peace between
China and Japan and had received re-
plies which We're generally favorable. The
communication could not be published
however, in view OF the existing situa-
tion.
Sir Henry James continuing said that
since 1882, when the Indian import duties
We're abolished, her markets had remained
open. Under the free markets Indla's
trade had gone on Increasing. driving
Lancashire out and into the markees Of
Japan and China. The new duty which
had been levied upon cotton would fur
ther embarrass Lancashire. The govern
meut he said, had been influenced by the
agitation of Anglo-1ndian officials not so
much Tor india as against Lancashire
1t was an agitation against a trade which
had lost more through the fall in the
price of the rupee than any other interest
in the country. These officials had misled
the secretary of state for India. who no
doubt had the best intentions, but had not
consulted the practical merchants and
manufacturers. The result was that the
home trade had been ignored. The duties
imposed in india nad dislocated the Lam
cashire trade. The counteracting excise
duty, which had been imposed in India
had proved to be really no protection to
British producers, while 1t had created
intense dissatisfaction in India.
Henry IT. Fowler, secretary of state for
India, said that before Sir Henry James
charged him with having sacrificed the
interests of England to india he ought
to have obtained better proof Of the cor
rectness Of anything he had mentioned in
his speech. The censure of India in re-
gard to the excise duty was equally severe
].
had accused him of sacrificing their inter-
ests. India's to Lancashire, and the lat
ter's to India. Both could not he accurate
He had done what he thought was just
to both. A serious financial difficulty ex-
listed in India and a large deficit must be
faced. Therefore, when the Import duty
was proposed in fairness to both countries
it was met with an cf-setting excise duty.
AIR. Goschen, chancellor of the e,S-
chequer in the last Salisbury cabinet, ad-
Vised the House 10 think twice what effect
the decision about to be made would
have in India He felt he said, that there
had not been sufficient cooperation be-
tween India and the home government
The debate ought to be followed by an
earnest and persistent effort to bring Ian
cashire and Indian opinions closer If the
difference We're only one of tariffs, a COM
promise certainly could be obtained.
Sir William HarcouFt, chancellor Of the
exchequer, said the government would not
hesitate for a moment to support the
decision required by the best interests Of
India, regardless OF the effect upon the
liberal party. lie could only regret that
the House had been forced In this mat
ter to consider a motion rendering nee
essary what must assume the character
Of a party vote. The government were
ready to meet the issue fairly and square,
" without delay. If defeated they would
feel that there was no cause for which
they could fall more worthily. 1t would
be a pity, however, If the vote should
leave ON the minds Of the people Of India
the lasting impression that they could not
hope for justice from England.
Sir Henry James motion was defeated
by a vote of 20 4to le9.