New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-02-10

London. Feb. 9.-In the first division OF
the new Parliament the House OF Com
mons. by a majority of 1O2, tonight, re-
affirmed adherence to free trade prin-
ciples.
The division was taken on the Oppo-
sitjon's amendment to the address In re-
,,v 70 the speech from the throne. urg-
inc fiscal reform. with special reference
70 the proposed reciprocity agreement
between Canada and the United States.
which was moved yesterday by Austen
Chamberlain. The amendment was re-
iected by a vote of 324 TO 222. The Ma
tjonalists. who heretofore have always
abstained from voting in fiscal divisions,
on this occasion supported the govern
ment. as did also the Laborites.
The debate had far greater vitality
than many former fiscal debates, owing
10 the reciprocity agreement. but this
very fact reveals such a divergence OF
opinion on the side Of the Unionists as
10 how to meet the new situation that, IN
spite Of Austen Chamberlain's having
presented preference arguments In the
ablest speech he has ever delivered. no
wholehearted enthusiasm was shown by
the Unionists.
Premier Asquith made long speech.
which was largely devoted TO argu-
ments in support of the government s
position with reference to the agreement
and IN denunciation of the tariff reform
agitation
Mr. Balfour, leader Of the Opposition,
declared that the Unionists. convinced
that their fiscal policy was right. would
continue the fight 10 the very end.
Canada's Gain the Empires.
Hamar Greenwood. Liberal. said that
what strengthened Canada commercially
strengthened the empire politically. Or
ganized immigration, and not protec-
ton, was the secret Of Canada's success.
The tariff reformers were not taken
seriously there, but were regarded as
using the overseas dominions az pawn
in the domestic party game.
Donald Macmaster, Unionist. suspected
that politics was at the bottom Of the
agreement, which was the first wedge
IN the cleavage of the empire and might
amount TO an imperial disaster.
Alfred Lyttelton. ex-Secretary OF State
Tor the Colonies, said 1t was clear that
UP TO 1907, the crucial period when
Premier Laurier declared that he did not
wish reciprocity with the United States
and offered preference TO the United
Kingdom, which the British government
refused, the mood Of Canada was against
a commercial union with the United
States. The British governments re-
fusal advanced by five or ten years Can
ada's acceptance Of the American offer.
Premier Asquith. replying in a genera
way 10 the Opposition, banteringly re-
ferred 10 the time in 1906 when the cleo
torate was crushing the ma tority agains
fiscal reform. There had been two elec
lions since. he said. and the govern.
ment was still i'm the saddle and consi'
tuted Il solid. unbroken phalanX H
denied absolutely the Opposition's asser
ton that foreign countries having pro
tective tariffs found admission on easie1
terms 20 foreign markets than Grea
Britain enjoyed.
The tariff advocates. the Premier con-
unued, often spoke OF Japan as coun'
tTy illustrating the utility OF tariffs, bu
he would advise them 10 postpone men
uon,ng Japan until they had seen the
satisfactory results expected from the
negotiations now proceeding between
that country and Great Britain.
Against Raise in Prices.
The governments main reasons for re-
fusing preference said the Premier. were
that Great Britains chief sources Of sup
plies could not be taxed without raising
the cost Of the necessaries OF life and
colonial preference could not be estab
lished without friction. inequality ant
embitterment
Dir. AsQuith maintained that the
American Canadian reciprocity agree
ment did not affect any article In which
the United Kingdom was seriously con
oerned. He asserted that the alleget
quotation from q speech Of the CANADIAN
Premier. Mr.. Laurier. given BY Austel
Chamberlain yesterday. never had beer
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