The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-18
RAIFOUR TAKES BOLD STAND.
LIBERALS TO TEST
VOTE OF CONFIDENCE.
Tariff Relations with tho Colonies Again
the subject Of Debate In the House
Of Commons OF an Ap'
neal to the Country u Increasns'

LONDON, June 1S.--Prme MinsVer nal-
,our and Colonial Secretary Chamberlain
made statements in the House OF Com
mon. last evening, which are Interpreted
bv the oppostion and the latter's press
sunporters az being most important decla-
rations developing a new fiscal policy.
Those who are most eager for general
election contend that this has been brought
annreciahly nearer by the ministerial
utterances.
II will be REGAL led that few days ago
the Government issued telegram from
the Governor OF New South Wales, in which
satisfaction was expressed at the "declara-
non by the British Government that every
.elf.eoverning colony shall be secured
IN the free exercise OF its right to enter
into closer trade relations with the mother
country'
Mr.. Balfour, replying to Sir Henry Camp
-Bannerman in the House OF Commons
on the same day, said he did not know
10 what declaration the Governor referred,
but anyhow the Government could not re-
gard with indifference any attempt to
penalize British colony for giving special
commercial advantages to Great Britain
Subsequently, in response to an un-
ofncial inquiry. the Governor Of New South
Wales. Admiral Sir Harry Rawson, tele-
Rraphed that he referred to the speeches
q Mr. Balfour and Mr.. Chamberlain In
the House Of Commons on this subject,
Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman. receiv-
ing an answer from Mr.. Balfour that he
had no information, and that there was
nothing to explain or withdraw, moved
the adjournment Of the House in order to
discuss the subject. and the subsequent
debate was peppery and drew forth the
aforementioned statements.
Sir Henry said that Mr.. Balfour's and
Mr.. Chamberlain's speeches had aroused
false hopes in the Colonies. which might
be bitterly disappointed. He asked Mr..
Balfour to say il the Government had .
definite policy or to make a positive deolara-
ton that the changes assumed by New
South Wales are not and may never be the
Governments accepted policy.
He further wanted the Prime Minister
to say that the country shall not be gradu-
ally committed against its will and without
its knowledge to changes 30 vast and
critical.
Mr. Balfour taunted the Liberals with
not challenging the Government to a de-
bate on the whole subject Of its fiscal policy.
He said they were afraid to move q vote Of
want Of confidence in the Government.
Dealing specifically with the passage Of
the Governors speech quoted above. Mr..
Balfour said:
"Thie Government ia unanimously at
one with the Government OF New South
Wales in favor Of an investigation. Arc
We to understand that IL other countries
penalize our colonies the Liberals would.
II they came to power. ait silently by
and watch the process Of intimidation
going on? Would they tell the colonies
that they had nothing more to hope from
Us II they suffered for giving W. preference?
This paragraph in the Governors message
does express the opinion Of his Majesty's
Government, and We do not think it
raises false hopes in the colonies. It can
only do so the Liberals mean to abandon
every colony"
Sir Charles Dixie, Radical, followed Mr..
BaHour. He declared that this was a
momentous declaration. involving . policy
Of retaliation.
Mr.. Balfour hereupon objected to such
an Interpretation. but said the Govern
mont was determined not to leave the COL
onies in the luroh.
Sir Charles Dixie responded: If you
mean that you will 60 10 war understand
your distinction"
Mr.. William Robson. Liberal. having
reiterated Sir Charles Dilke's statement
that the Government was committed to
retaliation. Mr.. Balfour interrupted him.
saying he had said nothing about re-
taliation, whereupon Mr.. Robson read an ex-
tract from former speech by Mr.. Balfour
in which the Prime Minister said: Il do not
shrink from retaliation If 1t is necessary,
but am not certain that there is no other
method"
Mr. Chamberlain assured the House
that Mr.. Balfour expressed the opinion Of
the whole Government when he said that
the Colonies ought to be secured in their
right to enter into closer fiscal relations with
the mother country. He said
we do contemplate a policy Of closer
trade relations between them and our
selves"
He added that he had been asked whether
there had been any hostile discrimination
against a colony for giving the mother
country special preference. His answer
was that there had been.
Having recalled the circumstances which
led to GermAny's penalizng Canada for
giving preference to Great Britai n, he
stated that in the German press it had
been avowed that the object was not only
to punish Canada. but also to deter all
other colonies from favoring Great Britain.
The Government disapproved Of a policy
which made such treatment of the Colonies
possible. It was a humiiating position
that Great Britain could not 60 to the as
,istance Of her Colonies in such circrm-
stances. He had also been asked how
such cases could be dealt with in the future
It is possible that they might not arise.
1t was q fact worth noting that no moro
was heard Of further discrimination BY
Germany against British colonies, now
that It was believed that the patience of
Great Britain had been exhausted. 1t was
possible that II Great Britain could get
something to negotiate with countries
like Germany would join in seeking modus
vivendi.
He did not believe the Germans would
put Great Britain in a position in which
1t would be necessary to take retaliatory
measures, but IL they did the British would
not look at their action with indifference,
and should try to find remedy. The
A. hoI