The herald., 1896-06-10
A COMMERCIAL CONGRESS
Seeking Essential Unity of the
British Empire
ALL THE OMENS FAVORABLE
To Closer Union Of England and Her
Colonies
ILL THE OMENS FAVORABLE
Inter-Colonial Free Trade and Imperial D.
tense for the Colonies Are the
Main Objects Sought
Associated Press Special Wire.

| D.
OF the chamber of commerce of the
British empire opened at 9 o'clock this
morning with Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain.
the colonial secretary and honorary
president of the congress- in the chair.
The hall was filed with delegates
from all parts of the empire, those Of
each colony being grouped under their
own banner Canada had two tables
and the others had one. The Canadian
delegation was headed by Sir Macken-
zie Bowel and Sanford Fleming. The
gallery was filled with ladies. Sir AL.
bert Rollit M. p, president of the Lon
don chamber of commerce, welcomed
the Delegates at the head of the stairs.
Mr. Chamberlain was accompanied by
number of notable colonists and
agents generally, including Sir Henry
Brougham Loch, Lord Knutsford, the
earl of Jersey and Sir George Baden
Powell and many others. Mr.. Chamber
lain was enthusiastically cheered as he
officially welcomed the delegates,
Among other things he said he was re-
joiced at every fresh indication of the
essential unity of the empire upon
which was founded all their hopes The
omens, he added. were never more fav.
orable, and he trusted their delibera-
t1ons would result in an advance toward
the goal to which all patriotic aspira-
tionS tended.
continuing, Mr.. Chamberlain remark
ed: The existence of this congress-
Is evidence that we have to a great ex-
tent annihilated space, and that further
knowledge must tend to complete agrees
ments between the colonies and the
mother country. The same note f6r.
closer union rings in all the resolutions.
ana all the proposals are dWarfed info,
1ns1gnffcance in comparison with the,
proposals to secure the commercial
union or the empire. Such q CONNER
cial union will necessitate a council ~
the empire to which will be RENTED
al questions OF commercial law in which
the whole empire is Interested, But this
is not all: Imperial defense win also
come within the deliberations OF the
united empire and this question is a root
deal. A"'o :"
so far, however. there has been q
deadlock: The proposals of the British
Tree traders have been rejected by the
colonies, aEl the proposal of the Colon
ial protectionists have been reiected I -,
Great Britain. Consequently we must
nnd third course, and give and taEo
on both sides will be found the terms
OF such proposal" ---@
Mr. Chamberlain then dwelt upon the
resolution of the Toronto board Of trade
which urges that '|the advantaees to he
ootalneo by closer union between the
various parts of the British empire are go
great as to justify an ARRANGEMENT as
nearly as possible In the nature Of a
zollverein, based Upon principles Of the
1reest exchange OF commodities within
the empire consistent with tariff reuuira-
ments incident to the maintenance to
the local government of each kingdom.
dominion, PROVINCE or colony now Form.
ing part Of the British family of ma
tions."
Mr. Chamberla In said that the adop-
tlon otthis plan would establish immedi-
ately and practically free trade through
out the empire, while leaving the con-
tracting parties free to make their own
arrangements in regard to duties on for
eisn goods, except that the essential
condition of the proposal was that Great
Brltain would cpnsent to moderate the
duties on certain articles largely pro- 3
duced in the colonies.
In the opinions of Mr.. Chamberlain, if
this proposal wsts backed by any consii-
erable support 1t would not be met with
blank refusal on the part of Great
Britain. The honorary president also
touched upon the resolutions adopted by
other chambers of commerce throughout
the empire, ,ofwhich that of the Montreal
chamber is fair sample. He declared
that in order to extend the exchange and
consumption of home products in every
part of the British empire 4 different
system should be adopted by the i'm
perial and colonial governments in fa-
vor Of the home productions against the
imported foreign articles.
All these resolutions were presented to
the congress in printed form.
A. B. Oler submitted the resolution Of
the Toronto board of trade, which was
hrst on the program. 1t WAS seconded
by the Marquis of Londonderry
Mr.. Donald Smith amended it by rec
ommending that steps be taken by the
governments to secure an interchanye
of opinion on the subject between Great
Britain and the other governments Of
the empire.
Nearly every chamber of commerce CT
Importance in the British empire is in
terested in the congress, and all those
who have sent delegates have endorsed
them one way or another looking 10 the
establishment Of a consultative inl-
perial council to pass upon matters con-
nected with it's defense.