Evening journal., 1903-09-18

LEAVES CABINET
Colonial Secretary Resigns
That He May Conduct
Tariff Campaign
EISG ACCEPTS RESIGNATION

ehequer, and Lord Hamilton, seere-
tary For India, Also Quit Office.
chamberlain's Letter to Bclfour.
London. Sept 1s-The official an.
nouncement Of the designations OF Mr..
Chamberlain and two other members
Of the cabinet was made late last night
at Downing street in the following
communication
"The following ministers have ten
dered their designations. which have
been accepted by the king:
Fright Hon. Joseph Chamberlain.
secretary for the colonies; Right Hon.
c. T. Ritchie. chancellor OF the ex-
chequer. and Lord George Hamilton,
secretary for India.
"The accompanying correspondence
passed between the premier, Right
Hon. A. ]. Balfour, and Mr.. Chamber
lain"
Then follows Mr.. Chamberlain's let.
ter, dated Birmingham, September g.
commencing MY Dear Balfour." in
which he sets forth his reasons for his
resignation. An extremely interesting
feature of the letter is the following
statement concerning a preferential
tariff:
For the present, at any rate. a pre-
ferential agreement with our colonies
involving any new duty, however
small. on articles of food hitherto un-
taxed. even If accompanied by a re-
duction of taxation on other articles OF
food equally universal in their con.
sumption, would be unacceptable to
the majority of the constituencies.
feel. therefore. that as an immediate
practical policy the question of pref
erence to the colonies cannot be
pressed with any hope of success al
the present time. although there is {
very strong feeling in favor of th'
other branch of fiscal reform whicl
would give fuller discretion 10 the gov
ernment in negotiating With foreigi
countries for a freer exchange of CON
modities and which would enable on
representatives to retaliafe " no ccr
cession was made to our just demands
Il think that with absolute loyalt
to your government and with no fea
\ Of embarrassing IL IN any way. l ca
best promote the cause have at hear
from the outside, and I cannot bu
hope that in a perfectly independen
position my arguments may be re
ceived with less prejudice than woull
attach to those of a party leader. Ac
cordlngly ! would suggest that yol
limit the present policy Of the govern
ment to an assertion Of our freedom fl
the case of all commercial relations
with foreign countries and that yol
should agree to my rendering my re
signation Of my present Office to hii
majesty and devoting myself to thl
work of explaining and popularizinl
these principles of imperial unior
which experience has convinced ms
are essential to our future welfare ans
prosperity.
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN"
Mr. Balfour, in a letter TO Mr.. Cham
berlain, dated September 16. explain
that he did not reply earlier because
he knew he would soon have an oppor
tunity of talking over the importan
issues with which the letter deals
Therefore this reply rather embodie
the results Of our conversations thar
adds anything new'to them" Mr.. Bal
four continues:
Agreeing as I do,with you that tn
time has come when a change shoull
be made in the fiscal canons by whicl
we bound ourselves in our commercial
dealings with other governments, 1
seems paradoxical indeed that yoi
should leave the cabinet at the sam
time that others Of my colleagues ar
leaving It who Disagree on the yer.
point with us both. Yet. i cannot bu
admit that there is some force in you
arguments in support Of that course
based as they are upon your specia
and personal relation with that por
ton Of the controversy which deal
with colonial preferences. benev
with you that a closer fiscal union bs
tween the mother country and the col
onies would benefit the trade OF botf
and that if such closer union could b
established on fitting terms its advan
tage TO both parties would increas
with years and as the colonies grow 4
wealth and population.
How can l criticize your determine
tion? The loss TO the government /
great indeed, but the gain to the caus
you have at heart is greater still. ]
30. what can / do but acQuiesce?
"a. p BALFOUR."