Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-09
Congress of the British Chambers
of Commerce.
ADDRESSED BY MR.. JOS. CHAMBERLAIN
The Advantages of a Closer Union
Pointed Out.
REPRESENTATIVE GATHERING

LONDON. June 9-The third congress of
tie chambers of commerce of the British
empire opened at O'clock this morning IN
the Hall GrOcers' Company, Prncesstrot,
this city, with Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain, the
secretary of state for the colonies and
honorary president Of the congress, in the
chair.
The splendid hall was filled with dele
gates from all parts of the empire, those of
each colony being grouped under their own
banner. Canada had two tables and the
others had ore. The Canadian delegation
was headed by Sir Mackenzie Bowel and
SIR Sanford Fleming The gallery was fill
ed with ladies.
Sir Albert X. Rollit, NJ. p, president of
the London chamber of commerce. welcom-
ed the delegates a the head of the stair
case.
Mr.. Chamberlain was accompanied by
number OF notable cC!onstS and agents
general, including Sir Henry Brougham
Loeb. Lord Knutsford, the Earl Of Jersey,
Sir George Baden-Powell and many others.
Mr.. Chamberlain was enthusiastically
cheared he officially welcomed the dele
gates. Among other things he said he was
reJoiced 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 favorable, and
he trusted Their deliberations would result
in an advance toward the goal to which
iCg. Mr.. Chamberlain remarked:
The existence of this cen gress Is evil
derce that we have to a great extent an
initiated space and that further knowledge
must tend to Il complete agreement be-
tween the colonies and the mother country.
The same note for closer union rings in
all the resolutions. but all the proposals
are dwarfed into ins.gnificance IN compari
son with the proposals 10 secure the COM
mercial union of the empire.
such commercial union will necessi-
tate council of the whole, to which will
be ren:tted all questions of commercial
law, IL which the whole empire is inter-
eSted.
But this is not all. Imperial defense
will also come within the deliberations of
the council of the empire. and this question
Is the root OF q problem with which we
have to deal.
so fur. however. there has been dead
lock TIE proposal of the British free
traders has been rejected by the colonies
and the proposal of the colonial protection
lists has been rejected by Great Britain
consequently we must find a third course
ana give and take on both sides, will be
round the terms for such proposal.
Mr.. Chamberlain then dwe!t upon the
resolution of the Toronto board of trade
which urges that the advantages to be OBJ
tanned by closer union between the va
flous portions OF the British empire are SO
great as to Justify an Arrangement as
nearly IS possible of the nature of a Zoll-
verein, based upon principles of the free
cot -eACHdHSe Oh &C InIDercs WITHIN the
pire, consistent with the tariff require
ments incident to the maintenance OF the
local government of each kingdom, do
minion: province or colony, now forming
part of the British family of nations"
Mr.. Chamberlain said that the Adoption
Of this nlan would establish Immediately
ard practically free trade throughout the
empire, while leaving the contracting mar
ties tree 10 make their own arrangements
III regard to duties an foreign goods except
that the essential condition Of the proposal
"as :hat Great Britain would consent to
modefaJe the duties OF certain articles
largely produced in thc colonies.
In the opinion of Mr. Chamberlain if
tins proposal was backed by amy ,-onsidera-
BILE SUPPORT it would not be met with a
blank refusal upon the part OF Great
Britain.
The honorary president also touched uDon
the resolutions adopted by other chambers
OF commerce throughout the empire of
which that of Montreal chamber is a fair
example. This says:
That in order to extend the exchange
and consumption of the home stapIs nro-
ducts III every part of the British enrire a
diiferential duty should be adopted by the
imperial and colonial goverrner is in favor
OF the home predictions against the i'm
ported foreign articles"
All these resolutions were presented to
Inc congress in printed form.
Mr. y. .. Osler submitted The resolution
OF the Toronto board of trade, which was
1irSt on the program. AMI it Was seconded
by the Marquis of Londonderry.
Mir Donald Smith amended it by recon-
mendinS that steps be taken by the govern
ment TO secure an Interchange of opinion
on the subject between Great Britain and
the otnIr governments of the empire
Nearly every chamber of commerce of
Importance in the British empire is rap-
resented in the congress- and those no.
able TO send deleS ,tions AVE Endorsed the
movement in one way or the other looking
to the establishment of a consultative i'm
perial council to pass upon matters con-
fected with the trade or finance Of the en-
lire. as We'll as with its defense