The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-18
Liberals Fail In nm Attempt to Drive a
Wedge Between the Colonial
Secretary and Premier.
CHEERS FOR CHAMBERLAIN
WHO SPOKE WITH THE AIR OF A
MAN WHO FOREsEEs TRIUMPH,
And Who Induced Balfour to Virtually
Retaliatory Policy.

LONDON, June 1.-THE whole evening
session Of the House of Commons was &C.
cupied with the discussion of a motion TO
adjourn, made by the Liberal leader, Sir
Henry acknowledgements in order TO
obtain further light regarding the govern
ment's position on the preferential tariff
question. The motion was finally rejected
by 252 votes to 132. While the opposition
was scarcely more successful than here
tofore in drawing the government into a
discussion of the general scheme OF prefer
entail trade within the empire, Premier
Balfour and Colonial Secretary Chamber
lain emphatically declared that the gov
eminent of New South Wales was under
no MISREPRESENTATION regarding the attitude
Of the home government and, in fact, the
Cabinet as a whole thoroughly agreed with
the sentiments of Vice Admiral Lawson,
governor of New South Wales, whose dis
patch concerning the attitude of the New
South Wales government was the cause
for to-day's debate.
Sir Charles Dixie, having referred to the
Premier's statement as a momentous one,
committing the government to a policy of
retaliation, Mr.. Balfour retorted that he
had not said a word about retaliation.
but he would not shrink from retaliation
If he were satisfied there was no other
method.
Mr.. Chamberlain then rose and referred
to Germany's action toward Canada as a
proof of that there was a hostile discrimi-
nation against the colonies. He did not
policy was to lie down under the treat
ment. Then, indorsing the premier's
statement regarding retaliation, the colon
il secretary expressed his confidence that
GarrnQnv Urnrr16 not nnnnna. Great TQrffoip
to consider retaliatory measures, but If IL
did, he would say with Mr.. Balfour. that
1t was the governments duty to find a
remedy.
The result of to-day's debate is recognized
as a great personal triumph for Mr.. Cham
berlain. The intention of the Liberals was
to drive a wedge between the colonial secre-
tary n the premier, who has throughout
endeavored to maintain a at
titude toward the preferential tariff pro-
posals. Instead of his attaining this aim,
the effect of the debate was to drive Mr..
Balfour into the colonial secretary's arms
and practically commit the government to
a policy of retaliation.
A feature of the situation was the changed
attitude Of the Conservatives toward Mr..
Chamberlain. In previous debates on the
same subject Mr.. Chamberlain was treated
with a certain GOODNESS. Tonight, on the
contrary, he was greeted with ringing cheers
throughout his speech. and he himself wore
the brisk and satisfied air of a man fore
seeing his triumph Whether Mr.. Balfour
was equally pieaSed at pelng forced Into
the open adoption Of the colonial secretary's
policy is doubtful, but IL is recognized on
all sides that Mr.. Chamberlain strength
ened his position and cut off any retreat
from a full discussion of his success.
Rumors circulated in the Hobbies tonight
to the effect hat the debate would result In
the resignation Of Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer Richie, the Duke of Devonshire
and other free-traders in the Cabinet, but
these reports were not regarded seriously.
1t is believed. however, that the govern
ment's position is more than ever precarious
and nothing can delay an appeal to the
country on the question.
The parliamentary committee of the
trades-union congress, to represent 1900. 600
organized working people of the United
Kingdom, passed a resolution to-day strong
ly condemning Mr.. Chamberlain's fiscal
proposal and urging the working people TO
combat the ''delusive doctrine"