The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-06-10
IMPERIAL UNION.
Britain and Her ccionfes Way Teach
as a Lesson ia Protection.
BIZ Cdbis to tho United Pres.

a. y = ctNkb-8htG I'VE y ; tAehk
as a Lesson ina Protection.
BIZ Cdbis to tho United Pres.
LONDON, June 10, 1s9s.-The second
days sitting of the sthira congress of
Chambers OF Commerce of the Empire
was opened in Grocers' Hall at ten
o'clock this morning.
Mr.. Joseph G. Colmer, Secretary 10 the
Canadian High Commissioners in Lon
don, that the Canadian dele
gates had considered the resolution Of
fered yesterday by Mr.. Featherston
Osier, Of Toronto, on behalf of the Board
Of Trade of that city, and had also given
consideration to the amendment thereto,
offered by Sir Donald A. Smith, of
Montreal, Canadian High Commissioned
in Lcndon. with the result that they
had agreed to amend Mr.. Osler's resolu-
ton so as TO produce a Joint Canadian
resolution. The motion made by Mr..
Osler, he said, recited that it was the
opinion of the Congress that the advaf-
tages arising from a closer union of the
Empire would justify an arrangement
as nearly as possible in the nature of a
zollverein based upon principles of the
freest exchange of commodities within
siiC lC,a L. Will ldIllI Z
quirements, incident to the maintenance
of local government of each kingdom,
dominion, province and colony now form
ing a part of the British family of ma
items.
Sir Donald Smiths amendment to this
resolution had set forth that the Con-
gress records its belief in the a~dvisabiMty
and practicabitty of a customs arrange
naent between Great Britain and her
coionies and India on the basis of pre-
ferential treatment and recommending
that Her Majesty's Government take
steps to bring about an interchange of
opinions on the subject between the
mother country and the other govern
ments OF the empire.
The amendmen Which had been agreed
upon by the Canadian delegates, Mr..
a recommendation fiat Her Majesty's
Government take steps TO bring about
an interchange of opinions between Great
Britain and The other governments COM
"as nearly as possible in the natur OF
a zollverein," which were embodied in
Mr.. Osler's motion
Mr.. Henry, delegate from Hobart, Tas-
mania, opposed the resolution. He
thought that the British Government
itself ought to take the responsibility of
formulating a scheme of union.
Sir William Des Voeux supported Mr..
Colnfer'S amendment. He admitted that
1t would be difficult for England 10
initiate a movement for a commercial
union, as the mother country was OBJ
liged to consider both the masters and
the working classes. He suggested the
helding of a meeting of the colonial
representatives apart from the English
to consider the question.
The st. James Gazettep enthusiast
cally concurs with Mr.. Chamberlain in
the proposals which he made in his
speech welcoming the colonial Geiegates
to the Congress of Chambers of Com
merce, which began its sittings in
Groeers' Hall yesterday, but thinks thai
the movement suggested by Mr.. Chamber
lain of the formation of a commercial
British Empire ought to be Initiated by
the United Kingdom instead of the
colonies, as proposed by Mr.. CnamGbelain.
The Globe on the other hand, while
lief that the proposal should emanate
from the colonies.
The Pail Mali Gazette agrees with
its contemporaries In the opinion that a
commercial union is desirable, but thinks
that the establishment Of a customs
union is very remote, declaring that it
will not be reached by the present gem
GRAFTON.
The Westminster Gazette" takes a de-
cidedly contrary view, condernning the
proposal as dangerous, upon the ground
that a great many Tories who are
clamcring for protection may succeed in
palming off such a system upon the
country. under the guise of Imperial
Federation.
Sir Albert Kaye Rollit. President of
the London Chamber of Commerce, even
tually proposed a resolution, which was |
seconded by Mr.. Osler, affirming thai
the subject of the establishment Of closer |
commercial relations between the United
Kingdom and the colonies demands care
full consideration, and the Congress-, there
foEe, respectfully represents TO Her Ma
jesty's Government thai if the suggestion
should be made ON behalf of the Colonies
or some of them it would be expadient
to promote such consideration and formu-
late some practical plan by summoning |
an imperial conference which would be
fully representative of the interests in |
yolved, or by such other means as Her
Majesty's Government may lie advised
to adopt.
The resolution was unanimously adopted
amid cheers and the other resolutions
on the subject were withdrawn.
Sir Donald A. Smith withdrew his
amendment, remarking that Sir Albert
Rollit's resolution did not ask any more |
than it was entitled to demand. Canada,
he said, felt that free trade was impossible
50 long. as the boundary of the United
States formed a wall Of protection against
the Dominion.