The sun., 1901-10-20
Great Britain's Colonial Poiic, In Its
Economic Aspect.


Economic Aspect.
II il we'll known that most of those
who desire 10 bring about tightening
of the ties between the United Kingdom
and it, Colonies believe that their end
may be- best attained hy the institution
of an imperial Zi','ro.H OF Customs
| Union Such a I mon would establish
free trade between all tho members Il
the British Empire, whilo at the same
time imposing "a common protect i've
tariff against the products of foreign
countries. The pra"tlcahilty of the
scheme was discussed at tho recent
meeting Of tho British Association hv
Mr. ARCHIBALD II. CLAEK in paper
that deserves more attention than Il
has hitherto received
Before examining the question of a
Zollrorein, Mr.. Clark conceded that
a huge and growing expenditure on
! the army and navy Of the nitcd King
! dom was inevitable and he reminded
his auditors that not a fcw Engli-hmcn
| now argued that the Colonies, which,
| equally with Great Britain. would prniit
/ 10y the resultant security. might fairly
be- asked To- contribute toward the cN-
pensc. This, of course, is jus, what
GRENvILLF, TowNsHrND and others
SAID after the Seven Near,' War. Nr
CLARK considered such demand I'M
wise. for two reasons. In the first place.
he maintained that the United kingdom
Is already compensated for the fact
that u bears the whole burden Of pro-
viding for the military and naval de-
fence of the British Empire. The COM
pensation he said. was the vastly greater
weight in the councils of the nations,
which England derives from the pos
session Of huge tranSmariu" dcpoud.r-
cics. He submitted. IN the second p'r-r.
that recent experience in South Africa
indicated that the interest, OF imperial
defence might bc better served hy the
spontaneous action of the Colon" -
than by a formal and binding contract.
He might have gone further. and a--
scrtcd that nobody has vet been able a.,
show how the Colonies could be- sati--
factorily represented IN tho lmpcrIal
Legislature. which would apporri.u tie .
contributions to the military aud naval
budgets.
Having put aside n belonging 20 the F.
limbo Of Chimcras the notion or effect .
ing any definite and binding arrange
ment bv which the Colonies should le .
made 10 share in the support Of the inn .
pcrial Hrmy and navy, Mr CLAEk ad- .
dressed himself Ia tho moro plausible F.
project Of ZoircTUn Thus project. .
also, he rejected on several grounds. .
Considering II. first. from the viewpoint .
of the interests of the lnltcd h ingdom.
be cited the conclusive fat that. of the .
total import and export trade Of the .
United kingdom, about IS per cent
was transacted with foreign countries
For those vital necessities 90 wit. food .
and the raw materials uf If, manuiac;-
urlng industries, tho United Kingdom
relies principally Upon the FOREIGNER
and not upon The culuui~I To a-E the
United kingdom 10 subordinate Its own
interests IN such momcutous particulars
To- the interests of tho Colonies would b..
on a." face of things. prcpo-tcrpuS
Neither l. a., Inurjulfr eH,rIrcc
which a Z0.irorcu would IMPOSE upon
Great Britain, the only objection 10 tec
scheme No doubt the Colonies wouIi
bc -lai to obtain a preference for their
food products ard raw materials u the
markets of the United kingdom. if they
did not have ~ pay too Ch price lor b..
The Dominion of Canada and tlr hu-
strallau CommouN"ilth. however. would
consider the loss ut ilr revenue. which
l. now drawn from custom. duiic. IN
British prniuet- and dcfrav~ e large
l'art oi The ,'~t # thc.r au;ur,-
lgn.- administration. tpo high . price
- pay for th" admission oi ,hcr ,.u-
Inoi,ur> TO the British mart,i urH,r
preferential conditions Another h,t.
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