Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1903-09-18
CHAMBERLAIN QUITS
Resignation of Secretary of Coll
onies Accepted by King
Edward.
CORRESPONDENCE WITHBALFOUR
Cause at Heart Can Be Best Promoted
from outside-coloniss interests
Overwhelmingly of Exchequo,
and Secretary of India Also Resign.

and Secretary of India Also Resign.
London, Sept. 1S.-The official an
nouncement Of the resignation of Mr..
Chamberlain and two members of thg
cabinet was made at Downing street
in the following communication:
THE following ministers have ten
dered their designations which have
been accepted by the king: Right Hon.
Joseph Chamberlain, secretary of the
colonies; Right Hon. c. T. Richie.
chancellor of the exeheqHer, and Lori
George Hamilton, secretary for India.
The accompanying correspondence
passed between the premier, Right
Hon A. J. Balfour, and Mr. Chamber
lain"
Then follows Mr.. Chamberlain let
ter dated Birmingham, Sept. 8, COM
mencing My Dear BalfouN in which
he sets forth his reasons for his resig-
nation. An extremely interesting fea-
ture OF the letter is the following state
Preferential Agreement.
For the present, at any rate, a
preferential agreement with out colo
MES involving any new duty, however
small, on articles of food hitherto UNI
taxed, even II accompanied by a re-
duction of taxation on other articles
of food equally universal in their con
sumption, would be unacceptable to
the majorities of the constituencies
However much we may regret the de-
cision, however mistaken we may
think 1t, no good government in dem
ocratic country can ignore It. I feel
therefore, that as an immediate prae
tical policy the question of preference
to the colonies cannot bo pressed with
any hope of success at the present
time. although there is a very strong
feeling In favor of the other branch
OF fiscal reform which would give
fuller discretion to the government Ill
negotiating with foreign countries for
i freer exchange of commodities and
which would enable our representa-
tives to retsliate if no concession was
made to our just demands.
Constitution Must Be Changed.
IF. as l believe, you share these
views. it seems to me that you will be
absolutely justified in adopting them
as the policy of your government, a..
though 1t will necessarily involve some
change In the constitution. AS secro-
tary for the colonies during the last
eight years | have been In a special
sanaa fba rnnracantafixa RI tho no1ioSy
OF closer union which | firmly be-
lieye to be equally necessary in the In
terests of the colonies and ourselves
| believe it Is possible today and may
be impossible tomorrow to make ar
Engagements for such a union. | have
had unexampled opportunities of
watching events and approaching the
feelings of our kinsmen beyond the
seas. | stand, therefore, in different
position to any Of my colleagues and |
think that should justly be blamed II
| remained In Office and thus formally
accepted the exclusion from my po-
litical program OF so important part
thereof
Can Work Better Outside Cabinet.
II think that with absolute loyalty
to your government and with no fear
OF embarrassing it In any way can
best promote the cause have at heart
from the outside, and cannot but
hope that in a parfectly Independent
position my arguments may be receiv-
ed with less prejudice than would at
tach to those of party leader. Ac-
cordingly | would suggest that you
limit the present policy of the govern
Nent to an assertion OF our freedom
In the case of all commercial relations
with foreign countries, and that you
should agree to my rendering my resig
nation of my present Office to his ma
jesty and devoting myself to the work
OF explaining and popularizing these
principles of imperial union which ex.
perience has convinced meare essential
to our future welfare and prosperity
The first portion of this letter refers
to Mr.. Chamberlain first speech on
the subject at Birmingham and Mr..
Balfour's reply to the corn tax depu-
tation. Mr. Balfour In a letter to Mr.
Chamberlain dated Sept 16 says:
Balfour's Reply.
Agreeing as ! do with you that
the time has come when a changs
should be made In the fiscal canons
by which we bound ourselves in orr
commercial dealings with other gov.
ernments it seems paradoxical in
deed, that you should leave the cabi-
net at the same time that others of
my colleagues are leaving 1t who dis
agree on the very point with us both.
Yet | cannot but admit that there Is
some force in your arguments in sup
port of that course, based as they are
upon your specified and personal re-
lation with that portion of the contro-
versy which deals with colonial pref.
erence. You have done more than any
man living or dead to bring home to
the citizens of the empire the con-
IcIousness of imperial obligation and
iptprd coincidence hqtwaan the various