The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-29
Also May Give Battle to American
'Trusts" Which Are EncrOaching
on Her Industries.
SPEECH BY CHAMBERLAIN
IN DEFENSE OF HIS PREFERENTIAL
TRADE SCHEME.
Premier Balfour's Reply to Sir Charles
Dilke-Parliament May Be Dis
solved Soon.

CABINET in DEBATE IN the House OF Cofn-
mons he has in frank and bold speech
further developed the policy which will be
universally regarded as an entire reversal
of Great Britain's fiscal position, and at
the same time he proved that he has man.
aged to carry the government with him
against convictions. The impression left on
the minds of the crowded chamber was
that the country was on the eve of a dis
solution, and that. as in 1900 Mr. Chamber
lain carried the country with him on the
South African war policy, he has now con-
verted his colleagues to the belief that he
would be able to carry it again on the pol
icy Of preferential trade within the empire.
In addition to asking for mandate to tax
food, he asked for power to engage in a
tariff war with Germany on Canada's &C
count and to fight the American trusts. 1t
is safe to say that no such sudden revolu
ton has been experienced in the political
situation for many years.
The debate practically ended with Mr..
Chamberlains speech and the House
emptied into the Hobbies. What little enthu-
siasm was displayed was on the Liberal
side Of the house. The Conservatives lis
tened to the speech in chilling silence, in
dicative of alarm and uncertainty as to the
outcome of the unexpected situation. Near
ly a hundred Conservative members imme-
diately intimated to the government whip
and to Mr.. Chamberlain their intention to
take the opinion OF their constituents on
the new policy during the Whitsuntide re-
cess.
RALFOURS SPEECH.
Sir Charles Dixie precipitated the
debate when he asked an explana-
ION ~ H.
enunciated by the chamberlain. Premier
Balfour prefaced his reply with the
remark that Sir Charles Dixie had attempt
ed to make mischief between the colonial
secretary and himself. but any such at
tempt would fail. He contended that after
the resolution of the colonial conference Mr.
Chamberlain was bound to raise the subject
Of preferential trade for public discussion
Mr.. Balfour deprecated waving the ragged
moth-eaten flags of either the protectionist
or free-trade side in the controversy, now
as far removed as the poles from the contro-
versy of half a century ago." The premier
then proceeded to argue that the tendency
was to raise a tariff wall against British
| goods. Great Britain. he said, must be-
come more and more dependent on foreign
| countries for food, and, owing to exterior
tariffs. would find herself compelled to dis
pose of her exports on Onerous terms, re-
sulting In an enormous loss to the commune
ty. He. therefore. urged that the time had
whether the doctrine that revenue was
never to be raised except for purposes of
| expenditure must not be abandoned. The
premier declared there was no contradiction
between the views Of Mr.. Chamberlain and
his own, but he defended the right of any
minister to freedom of speech. This fiscal
question required the most careful examina-
| ton. He was not certain that the scheme
was practicable. but unless some scheme
was devised the empire could not progress.
ONLY FREE TRADE COUNTRY.
At present Great Britain was the only
| free trade country in the world. II the
prevailing tendency continued the time
must come when the only neutral markets
where she could dispose of her exports
would be her own protectorates her own
| crown colonies and India, leaving this
| country helpless in the hands Of other ma
| tons. With respect to tariff negotiations,
continued the premier, IL foreign countries
were to be allowed to treat the British COL
onies as foreign nations Great Britain
| regard for her colonies to retaliate. Can.
| ada. Australia, India and New Zealand
were parts of the empire, and it was alb
| surd that they should be treated as sepa-
| rate aggregations because they had been
| given self-government. The premier added
| that If preference was given to imports
|
mitigate the severity of their hostile tar
/ IFS against the motherland.
| Mr.. Balfour concluded with saving he
| did not think 1t would be wise to tax raw
| materials, and he did not know whether a
| tax on food would be accepted, or that the
/ colonies would accept the proposed tariff
| lection of the working classes to a food
| tax, and he was aware of the objections OF
colonies to abandoning protection. If these
could not be overcome the plan COLLAPSED
/ w waS Sto TOD
| by Mr.. Chamberlain a policy of his own
and without consultation with his COL
leagues. He. Mr. Balfour. was in agree
| ment with him. and II his scheme some
| other similar scheme was impractical the
| empire could not be brought to the same
| plane of fruition as had occurred in the
| case of the United States.
CHAMBERLAIN'S SPEECH.
After a question put by David Lloyd
George welsh Nationality, in reply to
| whom Mr.. Balfour intimated that the gov
eminent did not propose to deal with the
| question before the dissolution of Parlia-
ment, Mr. Chamberlain expressed surprise
at the fact that his speech at Birmingham
May Is. had aroused such attention. 1,
was. the colonial secretary said, absolutely
the same in substance as speeches deliv-
cred by Lord Salisbury and Mr.. Balfour
| There was absolutely no difference of opin-
ion between himself and Mr.. Balfour. All
| the criticism of his suggestions had fallen
| into error in supposing that absolute
| reversal of Great Britains fiscal policy
was involved. Nothing of the kind had
| been proposed. Everything depended on
| the definition of free trade" and IL Cob
dens definition, to bring about a free In
| terchange of commodities at their natural
| prices" was accepted, then neither he nor
any member of the government sought to
| depart therefrom.
Although nothing was now suggested In
the nature of a reversal of Great Britain
| fiscal policy, continued the colonial secre-
| tary, ii was certain that a mandate must
be given the government If the suggestions
| that he had thrown out were to be car
| ried into effect Mr.. Chamberlain said ne
wished to make his own position clear He
| would do his utmost to bring this ques-
| ton in all its bearings before the people
| Thus far he had only raised a principle
| and had not formulated a plan. If there
| was to be no change in the fiscal system
| the country would have to give up all hope
| of closer fiscal relations with the colonies
| and must abandon all idea of securing al
| any time closer political relations with
them. II the government received a man
date Ii would produce a plan. He would
| call another colonial conference; but he
| could not negotiate with the colonies before
the people had given the government a
mandate. Everything would depend upon
| what this country had TO offer.
In the first place. however he must learn
! from every manufacturing district wha,
| articles made In those districts could be
| more largely sold IL there were preferential
rates in the colonies. What Great Britain
| should have to give was preference on great
1 colonial products, and that preference
would have to be on raw material. on food
or on both. He agreed that 1t was unde-