The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-29
TARIFF POLICY FOR ENGLAND.
BALF0UR ENDORSES CHAMBER
LAIN,S PLAN.
He says II Has Been Generally Discussed
by Cabinet-Mr. Chamberlain Further
Explains His Intentions In Regard to
Departure in Great Rritaiu's Policy.

Explains HIS intentions IN NegefO 70
Departure in Great Rritaiu's Policy.
Special Coois Despatch TO TIE SUN.
LONDON, May 2s.-In the House OF Com
mons this afternoon Sir Charles Dixie,
Advanced Radical member for the Forest
Of Dean division Of Gloucestershire, called
attention to Mr.. Chamberlains recent
speeches In regard to a preferential tariff
between the Colonies and the empire. Sir
Charles said he would like to know II Mr..
Chamberlain. in advocating something
In the nature Of protective tariff. spoke
With the authority Of the financial de-
partment. or Of the whole Cabinet.
Sir Charles went on to say that In regard
to preferential duties with Canada the
benefits that might accrue were still prob
lematical. He had examined the speeches
OF the Colonial Secretary and the policy
that they foreshadowed. That policy, he
declared, had not been thought out, and IL
presented to the country would he uni
versally condemned, as 1t had been in the
times OF their grandfathers and fathers.
Premier Balfour said in reply that he
was not much in sympathy with the hon.
orable Baronet He deprecated waving
the somewhat ragged and moth-eaten flag,
trade, IN controversy which was now re-
moved as far Ms the poles we're asundor
from that in which our fathers engaged
forty or fifty years ago.
Part OF the speech of the honorable
Baronet, the Prime Minister said. had
been devoted not to the fiscal policy Of the
country, but to the less elevating object Of
making mischief. The Colonial Secretary
o. % NhA hat a mi q
effort Of the honorable gentleman
The Premier. continuing, asserted that
the position OF the British islands is entirely
different from what it was in ls46 or 1s47'
1t is different from what free traders sup
posed it would be. They predicted that
free trade would become universal. but they
were wrong This is the only free trade
country in the world, and II the present
condition Of things continues. the Premier
Mid. the time must come when the only neu-
tral markets will be the Turkish Empire, our
own protectorate crown colonies, and India
This country would then be in a position
where it would be obliged to import an
enormous proportion of foodstuhs and
raw material and would have to pay for
them by exports which they would find 1t
extremely difficult to dispose OF in any
but the countries he had described.
The conditions which now prevailed. the
Prime Minister said. we're mover anticipated
and he would like to know whether they
we're to be excluded from consideration by
the leaders OF thought in this country.
With respect to tariff negotiations ne
would say that II foreign countries were to
be allowed to treat our colonies as foreign
nations We must be forced by patriotic
motives and regard for our colonies to re-
aliate. Canada. New Zealand. Australia
and India were parts Of the Empire, and II
would be absurd for them to be treated az
separate aggregations because self-govern-
ment has been given them.
II preference was TO be given to imports
for the benefit Of the colonies, they, in ex-
change, would mitigate the severity OF their
hostile tariffs against US. That could only
be done by taxing the food OF the people