The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-09-22
CABINET
SHAKEN TO PIECES
Chamberlain, Richie and
Hamilton Resigr.
Inc Corr spondrrca B-tneen Chamberlain ard
BiIfou- is fade PubIc---an Interesting
R,f-renc2 By Chamberlain 10 the
Preferential Tariff.
(By the Associated Press

London. sept. 1.-THE designations cf
Joseph Chamberlain a. secretary FOR the
colonies; c. T. Richie. as chancellor or
the exchequer, and Lord George HauIl-
ton, a secretary Tor India, were officially
announced this evening. It was an
nounced also that The designations have
been accepted b. the King.
The onicial announcement was made
at Downing Street in a communication
containing the correspondence between
Premier Balfour and Mr.. Chamberlair.
Mr.. ChamberlaIn's letter is dated Birming
ham. September 9Th. and sets forth the
reasons for his resignation. An extreme.
~ interesting feature OF the letter j. tnr
following statement. concerning a prefer
entail tariff:
For the present. at any rate, a pre-
tcrential agreement with our colonies. IN
volving any new duty. however small, on
articles OF food hitherto un1axed. even #
accompanied by a reduction of taxation
on other articles Of food equally universal
n their consumption. would be unacccI-
table to the majority of the constitl-
cncies. Howeyer much We regret the de-
cision, however mistaken We may think
II. 10 good government in a democratic
country can ignore It. l feel. therefore,
that as an immediate practical policy, tie
question OF preference TO the colonies
cannot be pressed with any hope of sue
cess at the present time. although there
is a very strong feeling IN favor Of tie
other branch Of fiscal reform. which
would give fuller discretion to the govern
ment in negotiating with foreign countries
for a freer exchange of commodities. and
which would enable our representative
to retaliate if nc concession was made 10
our just demands
~ CI,o aIo.Ia;. H., e.. -
lief IN a closer union Of the colonies and
the mother country, and says he can lest
promote the cause he has at heart in a
perfectly independent position. Accord
ingly he tenders his resignation with tal
suggestion that Mr.. BalfCur limit The
present policy Of the government to IL
assertion Of our freedom IN the case q
all commercial relations with foreign
countries
Mr.. Chamberlain declares that an un
scrupulOus use has been made of the Ole
cry of "thc dear loaf and that serlou>
prejudice has been created. In the res
of the letter he goes briefly over the same
ground regarding protection as did MI
Balfour in his recent statement.
Mr.. Balfour IN a letter to Mr.. Chamber.
lain, dated September 16, says:
Agreeing as [ DO, with you that thu
time has come when a change should bc
made in the fiscal canons by which w
bound ourselves IN our commercial deal
irgs with other governments, it seem
pGradOyIc3l, indeed that YOU should leav'
the Cabinet at the same time that 9th
ers of my colleagues are leaving It who
disagree on the very point with US both
Yet, | cannot but admit that there i
seine force In your arguments IN supper
OF that course. You have done more thai
any man living or dead 10 bring home t
the citizens of the empire, the conscious
ness of imperial obligation and lnter-de
pendence between the various fragment
into which the empire is geo~graphlcall
: divided. l believe you to be night IL
holding that this inter-dependenCe SHOULD
find expression in our commercial as wei
as IN our political and military relations
| believe With you that a closer fisca
union between the mother country an
the colonies would benefit the trade 0
the North
; Mr.. Balfour says if there has been an
difference between Mr.. Chamberlain an
himself it has been on the question CT tn
; establishment of a preference III favor Q
Y colonial products. AS to this Mr.. Bal
4 four says if it involves AS It most Gel
tainly does, a taxation however, light
upon food Stuffs, | am convinced with 70
that public opinion is not ripe for sue
an arrangement.
i The reasons may easily be found IN pas
S political battles and present political MI
t representations. If, then, this branch Q
I fiscal reform is not at present with
0 the limits Of practical politics, you ar
i surely right in your advice not TO trea
II it as indissolubly connected with tha
ether branch Of fiscal reform TO Whic
y we both attach Importance and Whic
h we believe the country is prepare I
Z consider without prejudice
Mr.. Balfour says the los. to the govern
nlent by the resignation IS great, an
e expresses his qualification thai Auste
/ Chamberlain will remain a member Of th
Y government. This, Mr.. Ralfour says,
conclusive evidence that II Mr. Chanhe-
lain's judgment as N his own, "the excl
sion Of the taxation Of food from tn
party program is in the existing clrcun
stances q course best fitted practically I
(" further the cause OF fscar reform.