The sun., 1903-06-07
How Mr.. Cham berlain's Proposal Is
Received In England.

We have before us the proofs of the
reception given to Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN
advocacy Of protective tariff by repre-
sentative newspapers and public men in
Great Britain. We may say at once that,
with the exception of the NeucasAe Daily
Chronicle, the whole Liberal press is un-
favorable to the proposal. On the other
hand, Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN is upheld by the
majority of the Unionist journals pub
lished in London. including the Times.
The Standard however, which is the
organ of the old-fashioned Conservatives,
exemplified in Lord SALISBURY, hesitates
to commit itself to the support of the
project, and the Spectator, WHICH speaks
for many influential Liberal-Unionists
condemns Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN plan.
The editor, Mr.. ST. LoE STRACHEY, while
insisting that he is quite as ardent an
Imperialist as is the Colonial Secretary,
maintains that under protective tariff
the Empire would die at the heart. He
points out that under the old colonial
system the colonies withered because
they could only trade with the mother
country. Now Englshmen are asked to
adopt similar policy of excusiveness for
the supposed benefit of the colonies. Mr..
ST LoE STRACHEY is convinced that if
his countrymen yield to this madness,
which may COP in his mercy avert, " the
result will be catastrophe.
Some of the strongest objections to Mr.
CHAMBERLAIN scheme are set forth
by Mr.. LEO G. CHIozzA. the editor of
Sells Commercial Intelligence After
submitting that the forty-one millions Of
people in the United Kingdom deserve
as much consideration as the twelve
millions in the colonies, he points out that
the food of the forty-one millions is de-
rived as to rs per cent. from foreign
countries. To tax it would be to cause
misery in Britain's crowded cities for
the benefit of the prosperous and un-
crowded colonsts oversee. OF Lhe trans
marine trade of the United Kingdom,
three-fourths is transacted with foreign
nations, and only fourth with the COL
onies. In Mr.. CHIozzA's s opinion it would
be obviously unwise to dslocate three
fourths of that commerce in the endeavor
to increase the remaining fourth. Mr..
r. BLATCHFoRp, The editor of the Clarion,
holds that while churlish fiscal system
might favor certain home or colonial
interests that would be dear bargain
which should hinder the growth of more
neighborly relations among the great
peoples Of the world. He would ha We no
fiscal change adopted which would be
likely to offend or estrange great foreign
countries like France, or Germany, or
the United States. Sir EDWARD SAs-
SOON, NJ. p, would regard it as foolhardy
for Englishmen TO ALLEVIATE, by discrim-
ination against American products. the
United States, whose growing naval
power would insure their supplying
Great Britain with the needed foodstuffs
in the event Of the latter Power being
involved in war with Continental coun-
tries. Sir ROBERT r. REID, NJ. p, argues
that il Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN's scheme were
carried out British commerce would be
revolutionized, it's settled routes dis
turbed, and its existing markets largely
lost, on the chance of being replaced by
new and hitherto unimportant markets.
He also contends that. inasmuch AZ the
colonies have'interests differing in many