The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-16
Says Free Trade In World Of Pro-
tectionists Is Working Injury to
His Country
PAMPHLET ON THE SUBJECT
DOCUMENT THAT rs SIGNIFICANT IN
VIEW OF CABINET DIVISION.
No Statement of what Took Place at
the Adjourned Meeting of the
Ministry Yesterday.

LONDON. Sept. I5-The Cabinet held an
other meeting to-day. but no statement
was made as to what action, IL any, was
taken.
Charles H. Strut, Conservative member
of Parliament for the Maiden division or
Essex. in declining TO resign his seat be-
cause OF his attitude on the education ques-
ton had been criticised by his constituents,
writes: 1--WE shall all -esign quick enough.
There will be a general election before this
time next year." This is regarded as sig
nificant when taken in connection with the
division in the Cabinet
Premier Ba.four issued tonight the ad-
vance sheets of a pamphlet on the subject
OF 'Insular Free Trade in which he pre-
sents at length arguments in favor OF
change in Great Brtain's fiscal policy. In
introducing the pamphlet Mr.. Balfour says
his purpose in issuing ii is that it would
be impossible to put all the important
points OF this question within the limits of
q single speech. and therefore. he says,
the pamphlet may be a fitting preliminary
to the speech which he will shortly make
This undoubtedly refers TO the speech Mr..
BaIfour will make at Sheffield, Oct. 1.
FROM FREE-TRADE STANDPOINT.
Mr.. BaIfour says he approaches the sub
1ect from the standpoint of a free-trader
far as contemporary circumstances will
permit. He continues: II am free-trader,
but not OF the pattern which holds that
the doctrine of free trade is universal
in it's application and so capable of an
exact expression that every conclusion to
which 1t logically leads must be accepted
without hesitation and without reserve"
The arguments presented throughout the
pamphlet vary little from those already
enunciated, but the premier points out that
as result of England's policy Of retaining
q fiscal policy made for a free-trade country
in world of free-traders, not for free
trade country in world OF protectionists,
the rate of her export trade has not in
creased and, in fact, has seriously dimin-
ished
Compared with past years, some depart
ments show no increase, while others
show symptoms of decay. The premier as
serts that there is no reason TO expect an
Improvement. Meanwhile. Germany. Amer
tca- France. Russia and even Great Britain's
self-governing colonies continue to build
up protected interest within their bor-
Mr.. Balfour says the mistakes made by
the free traders half century ago have
left Great Britain bearing all the burdens
which should attach TO the empire. He
devotes considerable space to the effects
OF protection upon combinations in coun-
tries IN which protection exists This, the
premier points out, is to the disadvantage
Of the British manufacturer who is unable
10 compete with the manufacturer VINO is
able TO sell abroad at lower price than he
charges for the same article at home. He
gives an instance of German steel in this
particular. saying that 1T is selling cheaper
IN England than the English manufacturer
can possibly produce IL.
RECKLESS ARGUMENTS
Mr.. Balfour declares that the optimists
who advocate a continuance of the free
trade policy in face of the injury worked
by protection on Great Britain's interests
are foolish and their arguments little short
OF reckless. The only possible hope of a
mitigation OF the evil is through negotia-
ton, which, he says, can only appeal to
self-interest in foreign protected countries
and in the case OF the colonies, to self-in-
terest coupled with sentiment.
Mr.. Baifour concludes: Were | proved
TO be wrong. my opinion on the funda-
mental question would remain unchanged.
Where we fail. others may succeed. 1t
cannot be right for a country with free
trade ideals to enter into competition with
protectionist rivals, self-deprived of the
only instrument whereby their policy can
conceivably be modified. The most essen
tial object OF our national efforts should
be 10 get rid of the bonds in which we have
Brdfuitously entangied ourselves. The pre-
else manner I'm which should use our
regained liberty is important. yet. after all,
only secondary issue"
The publication of the pamphlet i'm
mediately after the momentous Cabinet
council yesterday and to-day indicates that
IL cmbodies scheme of policy accepted
or rather acquiesced in by the ma jority OF
the Cabinet. III this assumption is cor
rect. IL means the abandonment of the idea
OF the preferential tariff with the colonies
and the taxation Of food. in favor of a
system of retailiatory duties Even this
however, is tentative. In short, the great
question of free trade versus protection
so far the Cabinet is concerned. is still
Undecided What will be Colonial Score
tary Chamberlain's attitude is the burning
question of the moment
The most striking feature of Mr. Bal
fours pamphlet is that from the beginning
TO the end il does not refer to Mr. Cham
berlain's proposals. There is not a word
about the threate breaking up of the
empire or preferential tariffs, and the col
onies are scarcely mentioned. On the con-
frary the whole line of Mr.. Balfour's rea-
soning Is opposed 10 tariffs for purely pro-
tectionist purposes. Hence Mr. Chamber
lain Is faced with the alternative of either
abandoning preferential tariffs or prosecut.
ing his campaign unsupported by Mr. Bal
four.