The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-29

and raw material. The Premier said that
he did not think 1t would be wise to tax
raw material. He did not know whether
. tax on food would be accepted, but unless
something OF the kind was accepted the
scheme could not be carried out.
He did not feel sure that certain wealthy
classes in this country would repudiate
the suggestion. He did not know whether
the working classes of the country, or
whether the colonies would accept the pro-
posed tariff notifications, although he knew
the traditional objections of the former
to the taxation Of food and of the latter
to abandoning protection. If these OBJ
jections could not be overcome this plan
would have to go.
Mr.. Balfour, in concluding said that it was
not true that the plan had been originated
by Mr.. Chamberlain as policy Of his own
without consultation with his colleagues.
He (Mr. Balfour) was in agreement with
the Colonial Secretary, and II Mr.. Chamber
lain's scheme or some other scheme was
not practicable the empire could not Ike
brought to that stage of fruition that had
occurred in the United States Of America.
Mr.. Chamberlain said he had been sur
prised at the exceptional attention that
had been bestowed on his Birmingham
speech In substance-matter and sugges-
ton 1t did not differ from speeches that had
been made at other times by Lord Sails
bury, Mr.. Balfour and himself. Although
he had not suggested an entire reversal
OF the British fiscal system. yet undoubtedly
a new mandate would have to be given
to the Government IL the suggestions he
had thrown out were to be carried into
practical effect, and this new mandate
would involve considerations of the utmost
importance.
Mr. Chamberlain, continuing, asserted
that unless there was closer fiscal relation
shin there could not be closer political union
and that the bonds OF union and OF a united
empire would be beyond the bounds OF at
tainment He felt sure that the people OF
the country would answer the question that
would he put to them in one way or another
in no uncertain way. He would hold him
self to be right until proved to be wrong.
When the Government got mandate
from the people, then il would be time to
produce definite scheme. If there was TO
be preference, it had been said that II
must either be open raw material or food
stuffs, or both. He did not bind himself
for all time to il, but he did not think there
could he tax on raw material.
The tax on food was what he had TO de-
fend. and If he could show the worklngmrn
that in return for this tax they would get
more than they paid he might 'indicate
the suggested course.
The working classes won lit pay one
quarter OF a food tax. and he would be pre-
pared TO devote not the three quarters,
hut the whole to social and domestic re-
form-to old age pensions, or to some cor
responding object of a national character
Mr. Chamberlain said that he would not
deny that a tax on corn was incidentally
of a protective nature. That would not
be the intention, but the consequence OF
the tax. 1t would benefit agriculture and
increase the British food supply.
The next point, said Mr., Chamberlain,
was how the British Empire was going TO
meet foreign countries, Germany. for
exemple. On that point he would say
tia, il was necessary for the Government
"a have power to retaliate
Mr.. Henry Labouchere asked If the views
EXPRESSED by Mr.. Chamberlain in the House
we're those Of the Cabinet No answer
was given to the question.
Mr.. Chamberlain, in concluding oeait
with the possibility of Great Britain having