The Dickinson press., 1903-09-26
l,H HAMBERLAIN is OUT
BRITISH COLONIAL SECRETARY
RESIGNS HIS POSITION IN
BALFOUR CABINET.

Chancellor Of the Exchequer Ritchle
and Secretary for India Hamilton
Also Throw Up Their Portfolios.
Preferential Tariff in Favor Of the
Colonies the Direct Cause Of the
Ministerial Crisis.
London Sept 1S.-The official an
nouncement of the resignation Of Mr..
Chamberlain and two other members
Of the cabinet, was made late at night
at Downing street in the following
communication:
"The following ministers have ten
dered their designations, which have
been accepted by the king: Right
Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, secretary
for the colonies; Right Hon. G. T..
Ritchie, chancellor of the exchequer,
and Lord George Hamilton, secretary
for India"
Correspondence between Mr.. Cham
berlain and Premier Balfour is then
made public, among which is Mr..
Chamberlain's letter, dated Birming-
ham, Sept. 9, in which he sets fort
his reasons for his resignation. An ex-
tremely interesting feature OF the let
ter is the following statement, con-
corning preferential tariff:
For the present. at any rate, a
preferential agreement with our colo.
MES involving any new duty, however
small on articles of food hitherto un-
taxed, even if accompanied by reduc-
ton of taxation on other articles Of
food equally universal in their con-
sumption, would be unacceptable to
the majority of the constituencies.
However much we may regret the de-
cisiOn, however mistaken we may
think it, no good government in a
democratic country can ignore it.
feel, therefore, that as an immediate
practical policy the question of prefer
ence to the colonies cannot be pressed
with any hope of success at the pres
ent time, although there is very
strong feeling in favor of the other
branch Of fiscal reform which woui;:
give fuller discretion to the govern
ment in negotiating with foreign coun-
tries for freer exchange of commodi-
ties and which would enable our rep
resentatives to retaliate if no conces-
sion was made to our just demands.
|. Involve Constitutional Changes.
IF, as l believe, you share these
views, it seems to me that you will be
absolutely justified in adopting them
as the policy of your government al
though it will necessarily involve some
changes in it's constitution. AS secre-
tary for the colonies during the past
eight years I have been in special
sense the representative of the policy
of a closer union, which l firmly be-
lieve to be equally necessary in the
interests of the colonies and our
selves. I believe it is possible today
and may be impossible tomorrow to
make arrangements for such union.
1 have had unexampled opportunities
of watching events and appreciating
the feelings of our kinsmen beyond the
seas. 1 stand, therefore, in different
position to any of my colleagues al
I think that I should justly be blamed
If I remained in Office and thus for
mally accepted the exclusion from my
political programme Of so important
a part thereof.
II think that with absolute loyalty
to your government and with no fear
of embarrassing 1t in any way, l can
best promote the cause have at heart
from the outside, and cannot but
hope that in a perfectly independent
position my arguments may be receiv.
ed with less prejudice than would at
tach to those of party leader. Ac-
cordingly I would suggest that you
limit the present policy of the govern.
ment to an assertion of our freedom
in the case of all commercial relations
with foreign countries and that you
should agree to my rendering my resig.
nation of my present Office to his
majesty and devoting myself to the
work of explaining and popularizing
these principles Of imperial union
which experience has convinced me
are essential to our future welfare and
DrOSDeritv"