New-York tribune., 1904-10-24
IMPERIAL UNITY.
a,r,.;ti against Conference-PIag-
iug scith Great Issues.
London. October II

- ruesfion, since ne Is generally regarded as
rrYt LIBERAL Chancellor Of the Exchequer.
~ ~ not be possible 10 name with any degree
..,.rarce the next Prime Minister. when
.rs four candidates. two official and two
-,-p,scut: but. whoever may be at the head
!, - list, Mr. Asauith is the necessary man at
=. Tressury. Lord Spencer. while in infirm
,,sb Is the favOrite among the Radicals and
,--me Rulers, since Mr.. Gladstone named him
his successor. according 10 Mr. Morley's
-.oajons. although Queen Victoria disregarded
=. advice and summoned Lord Rosebery: and
- Henry Campbell -Fannerman's claims to the
ppmlership are rs valid as Sir William Har-
.,r-rs were on that occasion. and, while his
slth Is falling and his political authority is i'm
-,,rsd. he is a Scotchman who clings tenaciously
- his rights when he has had the responsible
.,ss Of the leadership in trying circumstances:
~. II either % these Official candidates succeeds
~ Balfour Mr Asquith VIII inevitably be as
.irned 20 the Treasury. as the ablest and most
,T,sissent opponent OF the Retaliation and Pref
,-.ptial policies. Lord Rosebe-y occupies an in
s,Dendent position. similar 20 that OF Mr.. Glad
s.5ne in 1880 when Lord Granville and Lord
harrington retired in his favor; and the Duke
= sfDevonshire in many respects is the ideal head
IA coalition Free Trade Ministry. Each is an
,s,imate personal friend CT the sovereign and a
rvsat figure in English society and either as
Prime Minister would have the prestige OF brill
,unf abilities and influence; but neither could
dispense with the services OF Mr. AsQuith at the
Treasury.
As the incoming Chancellor Of the Exchequer
under any Liberal or Free Trade Prime Minis
,sr Nj Asquith has Issued a suspensive veto
mon an Imperial Conference during the next
administration. That is the only possible inter
prstation TO be put upon his speech in East Fife.
ur. Balfour had declared al Edinburgh that he
would call a free and unfettered Imperial Con-
ference Il he were restored TO power at the
next general election. Mr.. Asquith while admit
ting that consultations between integral por-
aons OF the empire were useful and ought TO
Be frequent set his face sternly against the pro-
posed conference as futile. fraught with mischief
and dangerous 20 the unity Of the realm. He
s-gued IN detail that imperial free trade was
ont os the question:: that the colonies would
oFer 10 advantages which might enable British
manufacturers % compete with them in their
oNa markets: that the people Of the United King
dom could not have their supplies Of food and
rnv material taxed. and that when impossible
Fscrihces were demanded and there was moth
,ng 20 be got out OF il, "specioug ana high
sounding phrases should not induce the mother
country to enter into conference foredoomed TO
failure" Language like this is too explicit to
Roseterys Free Food Conference. Mr. Balfour
hae virtually declared that in the next election
n. would ask for q mandate for an Imperial
Conference with the understanding that
esesi changes should be introduced until a
second appeal could be made 10 the electorate.
Mr. Asquith placed himself in attitude OF d.
rect sntsgonism 70 the conference itself as
p-spnstsrous and dangerous scheme. His answer
70 NF Balfours proposal that the colonies
should Be allowed to speak for themselves and
make known their terms was q simple, positive
asgatOn.
The colonies in these days need deliverance
from Bome OF their overSealous friends. Mr
Bslfour certainly IS q sincere. broad minded I'm.
psrlaliEt, without q trace Of insular prejudice;
ysf h. has chosen q most unfavorahls moment
Cor his mandate for the conference. He has
committed himself to this proposal as an issue
q the next election. when. unless all signs from
Tie bye-elections are at fault. the Liberals VIII
be returned with q sweeping majority. Nothing
could be more reasonable or timely than a free
and un6ettened conference representing India
the great commonwea,ths and the Crown col
onies, but, instead of calling It at once ana OBJ
tanning practical evidence Of the terms and
conditions OF dscal union he defers II until the
country can have an opportunity for sanctioning
Che Eumuons The general electorate cannot
nlAefc tAL AAaE lbSuG anu Role upon II. lnere IL
an accumulated stock Of public questlons-edu-
cation with the catechism thrown in licensing
With publicans interests protected, War Once
reform vitiated with ineficiency. an enormous
Increase OF expenditures. with retrenchment as
lost at. and many other practical issues-on
which the opinion of the nation viii speedily be
expressed. To ask for a mandate for an I'm
peilal conference when the government is
doomed TO defeat on all these other questions is
70 !nv,te deliberate anfront to the colonies. The
elections viii come in the course OF six months
o. year. and, unless the unexpected happens.
W. Balfour viii retire from office without re-
oeV!ng popular sanction for the summons 10 the
empire. Mr. AsqUith. Liberal Imperialist and
devoted follower OF Lord Rosebery though he be-
$ mercile's and does not attempt 70 soften the
how. he meets the proposal for a conference
WITH an unqualified veto. and commits the LIB
era party 70 policy OF barren negation respect
Ing interimperiaI commerce.
Lord Rosebery's partisans IN the press per-
'eiVe how ungracioUs it is 70 oppose the idea Of
aae communication with representatives Of
ne colonies. They assert that Mr.. As
auiths words must not be taken literally
Since there can be 10 objection 10 a con-
Nsrence such as Lord Rosebery himself has
suggested. namely. a meeting brought about
y the colonies themselves wish the under
tAnding that there shall be no expectation OF
tood taxes FOR diminishing the purchasing power
o. British labor. nor OF taxes on raw material
ior Increasing the cost CT production. They
"oule ieave the door open for a conference Of
MS kind after the preseat government has beer
oeiea'sd az the general elections on MF Balfour'i
retaliation policy and MT Chamberlain's pref
efental principle. and are confident that many
imperial questions. apart from commercial IS
sues ars ripe for discussion It is doubtful
however. ~ the colonies. loyal though they may
De- Will ever be found knocking at the door,