Omaha daily bee., 1897-06-23
BRJTrSH COLONIAL policy.

Inc queens s jubilee has brought to-
gcther in London the prcmers of the
British colonies, who are receiving dis
tinguiShed consideration, all of them
having been honored by being made
privy councillors. The presence in the
British metropolis of these colonial rep
rcSentatives affords an opportunity for
discussing policies looking to the cStab-
liShment of more intimate trade rela-
tons between England aud her colonies,
as well as strengthening the political
bonds which unite them. Mr.. Chamber
lain, the secretary for the colonies. is an
earnest advocate of an imperial policy
that will favor the British colonies in
the English MAJ let as to all the produ t.
of those colonies with which there is
foreign competition. He has not exactly
defined what that policy should be,
but he has intimated. as have others in
sympathy with the idea of closer com.
mercial union between all parts of the
British empire. that he contemplates Il
radical departure from existing condi
tons. We have heretofore noted the
declaration of the old liberal leader, the
duke of Deyonshire, regarding the fail
ure of the prophecies and expectations
respecting free trad, and white his views
We're not endorsed by all the colonial
premerS to whom they were addressed
one Of them, Premier Llur.er of Canada
unqualitiedly disappearing of th2m-they
unquestionably voiced the sentiment of
In, ~
with the Chamberlain idea of n coloninl
policy. That statesman believes that the
ties between the mother country and its
possessions must be strengthened and he
understands that there is no more cor
tain and effective way Of accomplishing
this than by more intimate trade rcla-
tions. \ British commercial policy that
would build up the trade Of the colonies
and increase their prosperity would as
surediy ut this time strengthen their
loyalty. With the colonies prosperous as
the result of imperial favor there would
be less danger of the growth of senti-
ment favorable to independence--a senti-
ment which has had considerable de-
yelopment in the past in some of the
| colonies, notably Canada and Australia.
The jubilee demonstrations make Il
| powerful appeal to British pride and
patriotism and the impression they may
reasonably be expected to make upon
| the colonial representatives is very likely
to be favorable To the policy championed
by Mr.. Chamberlain. All of these, hon
ored by the imperial government, will
return to their countries with an in
creased sense of loyalty and devotion TO
the British empire and to British in
terestS and necessarily With ii desire to
promote those interests in every way
practicable. A closer union, CONNER
! daily and politically, between England
ard her colonies, is tn .refore likely to
become paramount question in British
politics and indeed there is none more
| important to the future welfare of Great
| Britain.
In the development of the proposed or
contemplated British colonial policy the
people of the United States would neces-
sarily take more or less interest, because
it would involve conditions inimical to
our trade with England and her coloni -,
as, for instance, the imposition of duties
on products of this country competing in
the English market with like products
of Canada and Australia 1t may be Il
long time before any such departure as
this from long-eStablished English policy
takes place, If it ever does, but it is Il
possibility of the future In view of which
American policy should he vigorously
directed toward the extension of ouf
trade in neutral markets. For this W,
want judiciOus reciprocity policy and