Evening star., 1902-08-30
THREATEN OUR TRADE
British Statesmen Foresee
Business Revolution
OF VAST IMPORTANCE
ENGLAND's COLONIES PREPARE
TO SUPPLY HER WITH FOOD.
Coronation Gathering Has Resulted in
Colonial Boom That United
States Should Watch.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

\ Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
LONDON, August %, 1902.
| There is foreshadowed in the minds of
| British statesmen today one of the greatest
| revolutions in trade the world has ever
! seen, and one which more deeply concerns
| the American people than would even a war
with a world power
During the past year the people of the
| United States sold over $500, 900, 600 worth
| of agricultural products to the people of
| England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. The
people of Canada, Australasia and South
Africa propose to absorb this market
| to themselves, not all at once, it is true,
but as rapidly and completely as possible
| Theoretically they could do 1t and, even
| from practical standpoint, the competition
they are undoubtedly capable of will fall
each succeeding year Of the future with in
cTeasng heaviness upon American farm
ers; hence upon the entire nation.
The American trade will readjust itself
and new markets will be found at home
and abroad. The consuming power of all
the peoples of the earth will increase and
al will find employment for their energies
as before; but no doubt exists in the minds
of those who have looked at this question
from the standpoint of the English people
at home and abroad in the colonies that,
within reasonable time, the mother coun-
try will get largely from her children the
food for which she is now so dependent
upon strangers.
The United States will shortly reach the
flood tide of her export trade to the united
kingdom, If, indeed, she has not done so
already" recently declared a colonial pre-
mfer exultantly as he sketched rapidly in
bold and telling strokes the international
situation. And he added, Now comes our
turn"
This was before the colonial conference in
London had ended and at a time when Brit
iGh flt -,
held position of free trade with all the
world. AT the last moment these states
men recovered their equilibrium stiffened
themselves against the food of argument
and the still greater flood of imperial senti-
ment which at one time threatened to over
Wheim them In consequence, the imme-
date results Of this colonial conference
just ended are of more real value to the
people of the United States as warnings
and suggestions than to colonial English
men. In whom 1t merely arouses hope and
gives rise to dreams of future greatness
With promises of reciprocity in the
future many expressions of good will and
expressed hopes for better relations the
colonial premfers parted with the adroit
English minister Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain
Before separating, however the premiers
adopted resolutions which seem to fore
shadow what is not unlikely to come to
pass as the colonies grow restive under i'm
perlal rule and demand something besides
sentiment In return for their loyalty so
practically and materially expressed on
many occasions.
Danger Passed for a Time, at Least.
With the adjournment of this colonial
conference has passed for time at least
real and serious danger which threatened
the foreign trade of the United States.
close reciprocal union between England and
her undeveloped agricultural colonial area.
such union being based upon exclusive
trade and tariff privileges, would soon re-
suit In remarkable readjustment of in
ternatlonal commerce, especially where the
United States was concerned. This Is rec
ognized as fact by England's leading
sta tesmen.
pioned by the colonial governments of the
English empire. Their premiers have been
on the ground in England for weeks past
arousing public sentiment in their favor
Win glowing word pictures, brilliant
prophecies and compelling appeals to Brit
ish patriotism and imperial pride they have
been spreading the propaganda among the
people to the effect that the time had come
Tor Engiishmen the world about to stand
together against the foreigner be he of the
same tongue or another
On returning to their homes the colonial
premiers will submit the situation to the
colonial parl1aments, and the latter will
De given the opportunity of adopttne the
present Canadian policy, which consists of
favors to English manufacturers without
waiting for trade concessions from Ens
land. The colonies will be asked to con-
tribute in cash and men to the tmnerial
navy, to give English goods preferential
rates at the colonial custom houses and to
otherwise express in practical way a su-
preme desire for British trade In preferenr.
to that of other countries
In return for these substantial favors
Ehgiand oHers at present only vague hopes
OF 1uture trade concessions, larger rem
resentation of imperial power In the shane
OF more generous recognition Of the colo
MES as naval bases and other recognittons.
IN NIT = 49,
dement's ana others merely furnishing fueI
20 reed the name of imperial pride. Canaoa
mas already given the mother country near
| ly everything that could be sked and bas
received little in return: but the hone ~ ns
Eanada lies In British subsidies for direct
Ines or canadian steamers concessions In
t tavor 81! OF ner grain, and there is good reason
Tor Sir Wilfrid Laurier to express the hona
| to his people on his return that these tbinps
may come In time ~'''eS
England Not Really Free Trade.
1t must be remembered that Enel.na !.
not really a free trade country The wine.
Oh Australia pay heavy import duty and
yet the trade is rapidly increasing. Aus
trahan wines are now to be found everv
| where and, with special tariff concessions.
| they would become a staple article IN the
english market. the trade amounting to
| mllnons or dollors annually. It ia from
the new grain duties that Canada iooEs
| with longing eyes. Here is an Opportunity
13r securing what she has long asked.
When tnere was no grain tax 1t seemed a
| hopeless task to prevail upon the Ene1ish
| government to assess a duty of five cents a
bushel upon ell imported grain for the pur
pose OF waving that duty in favor of the
| asked for 1t. Aoe
| Now, however. there is an import duty
OF Six cents on each 112 pounds of grain
| OF flour. The way is clear for concessions
to the colonies and 1t is not difficult to be-
| ieve that the day Is not far off when these
| concessions will be made. The present tar
| ID not sumcient to cause an outcry from the
| consumers and the English farmers have
gained IN part what they have long fought
| American flour taxed out Of existence in the
| English market and the farmer is inclined
to agree with him. for when flour is brought
in the recidue of the grain is left behind and
the price OF feed for tive stock correspond
ingly increases
Colonial produce carried in Subsidized
L NnfDS, admitted dut}o ~