Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-05-16
CHAMBERLAIN
RAISES ISSUES
-------
Foreshadows Contest Between Free
Trade and Protection,
A MODIFIED FREE TRADER.
In order 20 Preserve the Great Em-
pire. Trade of the Colonies
should be secured.

London, May 5--Addressng his con.
stituents at Birmingham tonight Col.
Secy Chamberlain made q speech which
seems to foreshadow the direct raising
OF the question Of free trade versus pro-
lection at the next general election.
Mr.. chamberains unusual retlcence
and his absence from parliament and
the political arena since he returned
from South Africa have been the occa-
sion of much comment as has also the
fact that he took no part In the heated
discussions caused By Mr., Rltehie's
budget and the remission of the grain
tax.
In tonights pronouncement will prob
ably be found an explanation OF this
1t at least shows q variance OF opinion
with Premier BalfOur's speech To-Day on
the abolition Of the grain duty.
For him Mr.. Chamberlain said local
questions were comparatively unimpor-
tont beside the great imperialist policy
which the fate'of the empire depended,
namely whether we stand together
ODt lltt luAlOH hbdlNnA Gil lhN WI us
or whether we shall fall into separate
states selhshly seeking their own in
terests and losing the advantages that
unity alone can give
In q passing reference TO home rule
Mr., Chamberlain said that If separation
began at home rule the empire would
dissolve into It's component atoms, but
II he could believe the opposition party
frankly had abandoned home rule he
would be the first to sing "Nunc Dim
it's
The colonial secretary proceeded
strongly to urge the necessity In order
to preserve the great empire, that the
trade Of the colonies should be secured,
Canada had offered exceptional adyan-
tages, he said, which Great Britain did
not dare accept because OF the inter-
probation Of the doctrine OF free trade,
the policy Of dictaton end interference
by foreign powers. Mr. Chamberlain
said he was justified IN the belief that
Great Britain was so welded TO It's rs
cal system that II could not defend its
colonies, This was position not in
tended by the pioneers OF free trade
who, II they were alive today would
agree TO treaty Of preference and re-
clprocity with the empires children.
The speaker said he beieyd that an
entirely wrong Interpretation had been
placed upon the doctrine Of free trade,
hut that the country ought TO be bound
by this. and II should not hesitate to
resort to retaliation II necessary wher-
ever the interests between the colonies
and the home country were threatened.
Mr. Chamberlain avowed himself a
free trader but he objected to the art-
fetal and narrow Interpretation Of free
trade. He pointed out that Golden had
made, and that Bright had opposed q
preferential treaty with France, and
added:
There are two alternatives before
you, first 10 maintain the free trade
policy IN all its severity, although II Is
repudlaicd by every other nation and
your colonlesi second. 10 insist that we
be not hound by purely technical def
milton OF free trade. While we seek
the one chief object. the free inter-
change Of commerce between ourselves
and the nations OF the world, We VIII
nevertheless recover our freedom. re-
sumo the power Of negotiating, and II
necessary. OF retaliation"
In conclusion, the colonial secretary
said he desired that the discussion OF
this subject should be open. It was an
issue graver In its consequences than
mere local disputes. A mistake IN leg
islati0n could be corrected he said; hut
O mistake in the imperial policy was IT.
retiieyabe Personally he dld not think
q general election very near but wheth-
or near or distant. the issue would de.
pend on whether the people have
II In their hearts to do all
that Is necessary even II II occa-
sionally went against their preiudices.
TO consolidate an empire which could
only be retained bv relations OF inter-
estsas well az by relations Of sentiment
PRESS COMMENT
London, May l6.-The daily papers
this morning all comment upon the Inn
portance Of Mr.. Chamberlan's speech
The Standard says For good or evil
be has flung into the arena Of the con-
troversy topics which shall gain recog-
milton"
The Morning Post declares no such
speech has been heard in the country
during the present generation. "Thous-
ands Of EngliShmen. says the paper
will rejoice at the phenomenon OF a
statesman able to rise above party pol
itics,"
There Is also much comment on the
antagonism displayed between Mr.. Bal
four and Mr.. Chamberlain.
Protest Against Massacre Of Jews.
st. Louis, May 16-The preliminary