The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-06-09
BRITISH COMMERCIAL UNION.
Congress of the Chambers of Conn
nlerce-JOe Chanberlain.s Edeas.
. By Gable to the United Press.

LONDON, June 9, 1896.-The third con-
gress of the Chambers OF Commerce of
the Empire began its first sitting in Gro
GERS Hall at ten O'Clock this morning
The hall was crowded with delegates and
others. The Right Hon. Joseph Chamber
and Honorary President of the congress
delivered a speech welcoming the dele
gates, in which he promised the repre-
sentatives of Canada that their proposal
of bringing into closer union the various
portions of the British Empire by the
creation OF a commercial zoliverem would
not be met by blank refusal from the
people of Great Britain. The Chambers
of Commerce of all of the British Colo
nies We're represented in the congress.
Lords Lock and Knutsford, Mr.. Sydney
and Sir George Baden-Powell, NJ. p. were
among those present.
Mr.. Chamberlain, in the couse of his re-
marks, spoke of the paramount necessity
for the commercial union of the Empire,
which, he said, was at the root of ali the
problems with which they had to deal
1t was his opinion that a customs union
was thesmost feasible of any of the pro-
pssals which aimed at commercial union.
ana 1t was an essential condition that
Great Britain should consent to replace
the import Duties upon certain articles
Of large production In r1le Colonies such
as corn, meat, wool, sugar, etc.; but he
tinough,t tia, I, tne proposal to replace such du-
and not from the United Kingdom.
At the conclusion of Mr. Chamberlairl's 8
remarks, Hon. Featherston Osler of
Toronto Ontario. moved on behalf of
the Board of Trade of that city, that it
was the pinion of the Congress that the
advantages arising from a closer union
of the empire would justify an arrange
1nent as nearly as possible in the nature
of zollverein, based upon principles of
the freeSt exchange of commodities
within the empire, consistent with tariff
requirements incident to the qnainte-
of 11no rrox,
kingdom, dominion, province and colony
now forming part of the British family
of nations.
Delegate Mander of wolverhampston
seconded the resolution of Mr.. Osler and
Sir Donald Alexander Smith, of Montreal,
moved an amendment, reciting that the
congress records its beliefs in the advIs-
ahilaty and practicabllty of customs
arrangenent between Great Britain and
her Colonies and India ON the basis of
preferential treatment, and recommend
ing that Her Majesty's Government take
steps to bring about an Interchange OF
opinions on the subject between the moth
er country and the other governments Of
the Empire.
Sir Donald Smith said that if the Imperial
| Government grasped the matter boldly
their action would lead to another great
colonial conference, held in London al
| which the details of a measure which
would be satisfactory to the colonies
! and the United Kingdom could be ar
| ranged. A moderate scheme of preferen-
| tial treatment Sir Donald said, need
not shock reasonable economic theories
nor lead/to measures of retaliation Ue
expressed doubt that in the face Of a
! commercial union of the coanponent com.
| nauninies of the British Erpire othe,
! countries would initiate a policy of re,
| taliatfon Germany and the TInifed
| States surely could not object, inasmuct
| as they had adopted a policy Of preferen
! tial treatment themselves