The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-18

tina, a perfectly independent, position in
nv arguments may he received with less
prejudice than would attach TO those OF
party leader
Accordingly. | suggest that YOU should
limit the present policy Of the Government
10 ascertaining our freedom in the case of
all commercial relations with foreign coun-
tries, and that you agree to my rendering
nv resignation Of my present ONCE 10 MS
Maies,v and devoting myself to the work OF
popularizing these principles OF imperial
union which my experience has convinced
me are essential To our future welfare ana
prosperity Yours very sincerely,
j. CHAMBERLAIN.
10 DOWNING STREET, WHlrEHA' l.
Sep, 10. 1903
My DEAR CHAMBERIAIN; | did not an
swer your letter Of he 9th. which received
shortly before my departure from Scot
land for the Cabinet meeting. IA knew
we should within a few hours have an OPP
por,unity of talking over the important
issues with which II deals The reply.
therefore. which | am now writing rather
emhodies the results of our conversations
than adds to them anything which is new.
Agreeing, as do, with you that the time
has come when a change should I've maze
in the fiscal canons by which we have bound
ourselves in our commercial dealings with
other governments, IL seems paradoxlcal.
indeed, that you should leave the Cabinet
at the same time that Others OF my col
leagues are leaving il who disagree on the
very point with us both
Yet | cannot but admit, however re-
hctantly. that there is some force in the
arguments with which you support that
course. based. as they are, upon your special
personal relations to that port ion OF the
controversy which deals with colonial
preference.
You have done more than any man living
or dead TO bring home to the citizens OF
the empire the consciousness OF imperial
obligation and .he interdependence be-
tween the various fragments into which
the empire il geographically divided,
believe YOU TO be right in holding that
this interdependence should find express
sion in our commercial relations as well
as in our political and military relations,
believe with you that closer fiscal union
between the mother country and the Colo
MES would be good for the trade of both.
and that il such closer union could be es-
tabished on fitting terms It's advantages
to both parties would increase as the years
went on and as the Colonies grew in wealth
and population
II ever there has been any difference be-
tween us in connection with this matter
il has onl,- been with regard to the prac-
ticability of proposal which would seem
TO require on the part OF the Colonies
limitation in all-round development OF
protective policy, and on the part OF this
rountry the establishment OF preference
In favor of Colonial products.
Son the first Of these requirements vii!
saw nothing. But if the second involves,
az it most certainly does. n taxation, how
ever light, upon foodstutfs. am convinced
with YOU that public opinion is not vet ripe
for such an arrangement The reasons
may easily be found in past political battles
and present political Misrepresentation.
IT, then, this branch of fiscal reform
is not at present with in the limits Of prac-
teal politics. you are surely right in your
advice not to treat it as indissoubly con-
nected with that other branch OF fiscal
reform to which we both attach importance
and which we believe the country is pre-
pared to consider without prejudice.
I feel however deeply concerned that
you should regard this conclusion, however
well founded as one which makes 1t difficult
{, for you in your very special circumstances
10 remain member Of the Government.
Z Yet | will not venture in a matter so
al Oh
+ IL YOU think YOU can best serve the inter
est of imperial unity, for which you have
Z done so. much, by pressing your views on
colonial preference with The freedom which
is possible in an independent position, hut
is hardly compatible with office, how can
,criticse your determinations
q The loss to the Government is great in
deed, hut the gain TO the cause you have AZ
heart may be greater still, II so. what
can I do hut acquiesce? Yours very sin
e cerelv. '' ARTHUR JAMES BALForR,
! p S-May say with what qualification.
! both on personal and public grounds, l
learn that Mr.. Austen Chamberlain is ready
Ito remain a member Of the Government
Il There could he no more conclusive owl
dence that in your Judgment as in
mine the exclusion Of the taxation OF food
from the party programme is in the exist
J ing circumst ance, the course best fitted.
practically, to further The cause of fiscal
:, reform
Charles Richie. Chancellor of the Elk
chequer. who has resigned from the Cabi-
net. was the chief and most outspokan
opponent inthe British Cabinet Of Chamber
lain's tariff prOieCiS