Waterbury Democrat., 1902-06-21
NOT PLEASED WITH POLICY
Colonial Secretary Chamberlain
 Will Have Hard Time.

One of the Cabinet Says That They
 Have No Voice in the Policy of the
 Country-Eyen Though Allowed to
 Think and Act for the Time Being
 They Do Not Always Control Their
 Own Ideas
 London, June 21.-A bitter surprise awaits the colonial secretary, Joseph Chamberlain, in connection with his approaching conference with the col onial premiers, who are now ill London for the purpose of attending the cor onation of King Edward. For months the government has been urging parlia- ment not to express any kind of opin- ion upon the feasibility Of preferential trade with the colonies, and when ill., troducing meaures tending to such an end it has warned off discussion on the ground that it would not be fair to do or say anything until the colonial pre- miers had a chance to announce their views on the subject. In short, the governments whole imperial policy has been waiting i'll the balance until the premiers had gathered together. Un- fortunately for the government, the premiers had already practically come to a decision that they would refuse to make any suggestions until the inn perial government puts forward it's own intentions. That is exactly what the cabinet not only does not want to do, but cannot do. Hence perfectly tame and futile ending may be safely prophesied for the much advertised conference with the colonial premiers. One of the latter said to a representa- tive of the Associated Press:
 We have no voice in the fiscal poli- cy of Great Britain, and have not al- ways complete control of our own. Ob- viously it is the duty of the mother and governing country to make propositions to Us, instead of our making proposi- tions to it.4We might sit for months and eyeEtualy arrive at a conclusion satissdctory to all the colonies, though IL would be QIlncult. and then find that the results of our deliDesations were merely politely filed away in some plgeon-hole in Downing street. We must have at least some idea of what the government is willing to support before we can seriously discuss such a vital question. Lord Salisbury has publicly stated his disbelief in the prac- tlcabllity of colonial preference, and Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, the chanceI- Tor of the exchequer. has openly de- clared his hostility to the idea. So what IS the good of our hayinga mock debate for the sake of holding up MT Chamber
 laln's hands into the empty air. It is l very nice for us all to get together and doubtless intercolonial harmony will thereby be promoted; but beyond that l can see no practical ending of our meetings"
 l The only end likely to be achieved | at this really notable meeting is one which IS peculiarly interesting to the l United States and Canada The As
 sCciated Press learns that Sir Wilfred
 Laurier, the Canadian premier, Sir
 Robert Bond, the premier of New
 Foundland and Mr Chamberlain intend | to thresh out their long standing diff i ferences of opinion. On all sides there 1 IS hOpefulneSS that a conclusion will
 be reached regarding the Bond-Blaine convention. New FoundIand is deter
 mined to have the matter settled and
 though her attitude may bring up al. most every question now pending be-
 tween the United States and Canada. l the prospect of a satisfactory agree ment appears bright.
 Another noteworthy item in connec- I tion with the conference is that a pro- position will be brought forward for the confederation of Newfoundland and Canada. This. while doubtless causing some stir and the usual crop of incorrect rumors. will be abortive. Newfoundland will not consent to los ing her Individuality as the oldest col ony. especially in view of her present satisfactory financial condition, al- though Canada's offer to include the
 island in the Dominion would mean a
 reduction of twenty per cent of the
 taxation now necessarily imposed on the Newfound1anders. Sir Robert
 Bond believes that the same end can
 be better achieved through reciprocity
 with the United States, which is much
 more important to Newfoundland
 than imperial trade preference.