The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-09-18
CHAMBERLAIN is OUT
COLONIAL SECRETARY LEAVES
THE BRITISH CABINET.
OTHER MINISTERS ALSO OUT.
RITCHIE, OF THE EXCHEQUER,
AND HAMILTON, FOR INDIA, Go.

berlain and Premier BaIfOur Rel
ative to the Fiscal Policy of Great
Britain-The Positions of Both
Statesmen Are Set Forth.
London, Sept. l7.-The designations
of Joseph Chamberlain, as secretary
for the colonies, c. T. Richie. as
chancellor of the exchequer. and Lord
George Hamilton, as secretary for In
dia, were officially announced this even
ing. 1t was announced also that the
designations have been accepted by the
| King.
The official announcement was made
at Downing street in communication
containing the correspondence between
Premier Balfour and Mr.. Chamberlain.
| Mr.. Chamberlains letter is dated Bir-
! mingham, Sept. 9. and sets forth the
| reasons for his resignation. An ex-
| tremely interesting feature of the let
| ter is the following statement, concern
| ing a preferential tariff:
| For the present. at any rate, a pref
erential agreement with our colonies
involving any new duty. however small,
on articles of food hitherto untaxed.
even if accompanied by a reduction of
taxation on other articles of food equal
| ~ universal in their consumption,
would be unaccepta BILE to the majority
of the constituencies. However much
we may regret the decision, however
mistaken we may think it, no good
government in a democratic country
| can ignore it.
hot INN
date practical policy the question of
preference to the colonies cannot be
| pressed with any hope of success at the
present time, although there is strong
feeling in favor of the other branch of
fiscal reform, which would give fuller
discretion to the government in nego-
! tiating with foreign countries for a
| freer exchange of commodities, and
which would enable our representatives
to retaliate if no concession was made
to our just demands"
For Closer Union.
Mr.. Chamberlain expresses his firm
| belief in a closer union of the colonies
| and the mother country, and says he
| can best promote the cause he has at
heart in a perfectly independent posi-
ton. Accordingly he tenders his resg-
nation with the suggestion that Mr..
Balfour limit the present policy of the
freedom in the case of all commercial
relations with foreign countries"
Mr.. Chamberlain declares that an
! INSCRIPTIONS use has been made of the
old cry of "the dear loaf and that Sc
rious prejudice has been created. In
the rest of the letter he goes briefly
| over the same ground regarding pro-
| lection as did Mr.. Balfour in his re-
cent statement
Mr.. Balfour in letter to Mr.. Cham
berlain, dated Sept. Is says:
Agreeing as I do with you that the
the time has come when a change
should be made in the fiscal canons by
which we bound ourselves in our com
mercial dealings with other govern
ments, it seems paradoxical, indeed,
| that you should leave the cabinet at
! the same time that others of my col
leagues are leaving it, who disagree on
the very point with us both Yet, I
| cannot but admit that there is some
Fforce in your arguments in support of
that course. You have done more than
any man living or dead to bring home
to the citizens of the empire the con-
seriousness of imperial obligation and
interdependence between the various
fragments into which the empire is
| geographically divided. l believe you
to be right in holding that this inter-
dependence should find expression in
our CO1lDlefCldl, as We'll dS III our pO-
litical and military, relations ! be-
lieve with you that a closer fiscal un-
ion between the mother country and
the colonies would benefit the trade of
| both"
Question of Preference.
Mr.. Balfour says when there has
been any difference between Mr..
| Chamberlain and himself 1t has been
on the question of the establishment
! g. IL al
/ products. AS to this, Mr.. Balfour says
if it. involves, "as it most certainly
does, a taxation, however light, upon
food stuffs, / am convinced with you
| that public opinion is not ripe for such
| an arrangement. The reasons may cas-
lily be found in past political battles
and present political misrepresenta-
tions. IT, then, this branch of fiscal
reform is not at present within the
limits of practical politics, you are
surely right in your advice not to treat
it as indissolubly connected with that
other branch of fiscal reform to which
we both attach Importance and which
we believe the country is prepared to
consider without prejudice"
Mr.. Balfour says the loss to the gov
eminent by the resignation is great,
and expresses his qualification that
| Austin Chamberlain will remain
| member of the government. This, Mr..
| BalfOur says, is conclusive evidence
that in Mr.. Chamberlain's judgment.
as in his own. 1.-The exclusion of the
! taxation of food from the party pro-
gramme is in the existing circum-
stances a course best fitted practically
to further the cause of fiscal reform"
How London Views 1t.
London, Sept 1S.-The retirement Of
! Colonial Secretary Chamberlain. which
precipitates the most dramatic crisis
and the bitterest party struggle since
| his secession from Mr. Gladstone's
| home rule cabinet. was unknown and
| unsupported in London until the Of
fetal announcement was issued late
/ at night too late for the evening
| papers. 1t will only become known
to the general public from this morn
| ings papers.
II is understood that the designations
! Of some other members OF the cabinet
| are eminent and that Lord Balfour
| Of Burleigb, Secretary for Scotland,
has actually resigned. although the
fact lfas not yet been formally given
| out
Curiosity centers on the attitude Of
the Duke Of DevOnshire. whose resig-
nation has been fully expected. As
/ 70 the reconstruction Of the ca biBet
no great interest 70 excited although