Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-21
STRAIN ON BRITISH FREE TRADE.

During the last few years there has
been a growth Of sentiment in England
in favor Of modifying the fiscal system
Of the country. a very considerable
number of Englishmen have come to
think that there should be some change
from the free trade policy in order to
better enable British interests to com
bat the protectionist policy of the con-
tinental countries. They question the
wisdom Of n principle which gives other
nations free entry for their goods into
England when they put up the bars
against the sending of English goods to
them.
This sentiment appears to have been
somewhat intensified IL not strength
ened by the proposed remission Of the
grain duty, levied to supply revenue for
carrying on the Boer war. Some days
ago Premier Balfour addressed a depu-
tation of influential men, representing
the agricultural interest, who protested
against the remission Of the duty. 1t
was pointed out that the tax had af-
forded some protection to the millers
and the farmers, while 1t had not in
creased the price of bread to the con
sumner, and therefore should be retained
in the interest of English agriculture.
Mr.. Balfour's address implied that this
will not be done, but he remarked that
he did not intend to say that the pres
ent fiscal system was necessarily per-
manent. New conditions had arisen
since the old free trade policy was
adopted and he could imagine cireum-
stances under which Great Britain, by
way of retaliation, would no longer con
sent to be made a passive target for
other countries living under different
conditions"
On the same day that the premier
spoke Mr.. Chamberlain, the colonial sec
rotary, made a speech to his Birming-
ham constituents, in which he very
distinctly urged a change in British
fiscal policy. While avowing himself
n free trader he objected to the ar
tihcial and narrow Interpretation Of free
trade and said: There are two al
ternatives before you; first, to main
tain the free trade policy in all its sever
ity, although it is repudiated by every
other nation and your colonies: second,
to insist that we be not bound by any
purely technical d~efnitionsof free trade.
While we seek the one chief object, the
free interchange of between
ourselves and all the nations OF the
world, we will nevertheless o our
freedom, resume the power of negotia-
tons, and, If necessary, of retaliation"
This significant utterance has created
great interest not only in England, but
also upon the continent. On Tuesday
the question was discussed by Lord
Rosebery, former prime minister, but
what he said was not Of very great I'm
p~ortance. except in the fact that, while
a we'll known free trader, he did not
take issue in positive terms with the
views OF Mr.. Chamberlain.
All this shows a trend which is very
likely to become more pronounced In
the near future and 1t possesses a uni.
versal interest, because any important
change in England's fiscal policy could
not fail to have a widespread effect.
The attitude of Mr.. Chamberlain, whose
great influence is recognized, has at
tracted serious attention on the con.
tinent and particularly in Germany. II
is not at all probable that there will
be any material change in British policy
under the present ministry, but 1t is
quite possible that it may in the NOT
remote future give place to one rep.
~resenting the sentiment for change
which now seems to he gaining ground