Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-05-29
Coming Between England and
America on Industrial Lines.
Chamberlain Wants to Fight For
mef's Tariff and Our Trusts.
he Agyin Shows Himself the Stronu
- Man sf the Cabinet.

man of the cabinet. In a debafa which
may prove the most momentous5of the
brcseut Parliament, he, in a. frank and
bold speech. further developed the
policy which will be universally regard
ed as an entire reversal of Great Brit
aims fiscal position and at the same
time ne proved that he has managed to
carry the government with him against
their convictions.
Ihe IMPRESSION left on the minds of
the crowded chamber was that the
country Is on the eve of a dissolution
and that as in 1890, Mr.. Chamberlain
carried the country with him on the
south African. war policy, he has now
converted his colleagues to the belief
that ne will be able to carry it again on
The policy of preferential trade within
the empire. In addition to asking for a
manttate to tax food he asks for power
to cnpage in tariff war with Germany
on Canada's account and to fight the
Ar ,erican trusts.
The debate practically ended with Mr..
ChamberIain's speech and the House
emptied into the Hobbies, few staying
to hear Winston Churchill declare hos
Hiity to the colonial secrctary's policy
What little enthusiasm was displayed
was ON the Liberal side of the House
The Conservatives listened to the
speech In chilling silence, indicative of
alarm and uncertainty as to the out
come /" OF the unexpected situation.
Nearly 100 Conservative members i'm
mediately intimated to the government
whip and to Mr.. Chamberlain their in
tention to take the opinion of their con-
stituents on the new policy during the
Whitsuntidc recess.
Sir Chas. Dixie advanced LibcraD
raised discussion on the fiscal views
recently instituted by Colonial Score
tary Chamberlain. He maintained that
Mr.. Chamberlain had suggested a Icvo-
lutionary change in the governments
policy which was opposed to all the
traditions and to the opinions of an
Overwhelming majority in Parliament.
He considered that while the policy of
the government as outlined in the re-
cent colonial conference was dangerous
it fell far short of the policy now sug-
gcSted.
Premier Balfour prefaced his reply
with the remark that Sir Charles Dixie
had attempted to make mischief be-
tween the colonial secretary and him
self; but any such attempt would fail.
lie contendcd that after the resolution
of the colonial conference Mr.. Cham
berlain was bound to raise the subject
of preferential treatment for public
discussion. Mr.. Balfour deprecated
waving the ragged, moth-eatcn flags
of either the protcctionist or the fire."
trade side in the controversy now as
far removed as the poles from the con-
troversy of half century ago.
The premier then proceeded TO ar
que that the tendency was to raise il
tariff wall against British good%. Great
Britain, he said, must become more
and moro dependent on foreign coun-
tries for food and owing to exterior
tariffs would find herself compelled to
dispose of her exports on oncrouS
terms. resulting in an enormous loss
to the community. He therefore urged
that the time had come when it should
be publicly discussed whether the doc
trine that revenue was never to be
raised except for purposes OF cNpendl-
ture must not be abandoned. He was
not certain that the scheme was prac-
ticable. but unless some scheme was
devised the empire could not progress
At present Great l:rlain was the "m'N
free trade country in the world. IL tho
prevailing tendency continued, the tune
must come when the only neutral mar
kcts where she could dispose of her rA-
ports would lac hex own prutHctoratcS II =
own crown colonies and India, leaving TINS
country helpless i'll the hands of other ma
tons.
With respect to tatiff negotiations cor
tnucd the premier, If foreign countil""
were to he allowed to- treat the British
colonies as foreign nations. Great Blta u
regard for her colonies to rctaliate. Can.
ada. Australia, India and New Icalali'i
were parts OF the empire and it was ah-
surd that they should be- treated as spa
rate aggregntions because they had been
given Sclf-govcrnment He added That II
preference WAS given to imports from 'l'
colonies they would in exchange mitlSHt"
the severity 1T their hostile tariffs against
the mcthcrla1d
Mr. Balfour concluded with saying he
did not think II would bc wise TO tax raw
materials and he did not know whether
II tax on food would he accepted or that
the colonies would accept the proposed
tariff molitica tons lie knew the tradl
tional objection of the working CLASSES l"
II food tax and he was aware of the o'ltc-
ton Of the colonies to abandoning protrr-
ton. II these could not be overcome the
plan collapsed. 1t was not true that the
idea was started by MIR. Chamberlain rs
n policy of his own and without consul
taton with his colleagues. He tMr. Bal
fn,lr) was in agreement with him ana ii
his scheme or some other similar sChem
was impractcable, the empire could MOI
be brought to the same plane of frultiot
~ had occurred in the case of the CiItct
States.
A bill enabling the British government
to carry out the provisions of the lruS
sells Sugar Convention passed its iirs
reading in the House ct Commons IhurS
day. AZ to s..
Replying to a question in the House O
Commons, today. the under foreign StCrc
tary, Lord Cranhornc. said that so fal
as the British foreign office was awar"
Germany alone had threatened rCprlS1E
on Canada in consequence of the latte
granting preferential treatment to British
goods.
Cardiner Bow Makes Mast Point.