The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-03-29
BRITAIN'S ATTITUDE
ON FOREIGN TRADE


bcrs of the government. Mr.. Mckcn-
ma. Chance llor of the EXchcduer, who
directs fiscal policy and frames tariff
legislation and Mr.. Bonar Law, Min
ister of Colonies, have given an idea
of the government attitude on the
agitation which has been sweeping
Manchester, Birmingham and the
great industrial centers, for com
plete overturning of British policy
giving free open markets for for
eign goods, and the inauguration of
new policy of tariff restriction
The two ministers represent the
two extremes of sentiment within
the government on this fundamental
question of British policy. the Chan
ccllor of the EXchcQucr bclongine to
the Golden element strongly attach
ed to the traditional doctrine of open
markets, and Bonar Law represent
ing the later element which took up
Joseph Chamberlain campaiGn for
protection of home Industries. Each
has made an address Seccntly, show
ing how both sides of the gov ,rn-
that the war has chaneed every
thing and has opened the way for
n in
ministers differ, however. in one re-
spect, Mr. Bonar Law holding that
must begin on new basis and put
aside all preconceived ideas" while
ed tariff changes will be the result
Of common agreement and enlight-
ment from the war, rather than a
surrender of old ideas.
81 believe" said Mr. McKenna,
once divided the nation (free trade)
probably the opinions of ost of us
follow, because upon that great is
sue we stand where we stood before
-basing our opinions, each accord
ing to his own liehts. on theoretical
principles that there is not very
between us. 1t does not follow.
though trade may be free, that the
help of the government should not
be given to assist our traders We
are prepared, and we have already
shown in a way which | am not yet
able to state We are prepared to
give the assistance of the govern
mcnt to the development of foreign
trade in ordr to ensure that those
rivals who are now our bitter enc
mics shall not have the control Of
foreign trades which they have en-
joyed in the past.
II do not fear that the spirit and
resources of our manufacturers and
merchants and bankers will fail us.
In the past there has been complaint
that the government has not given
the assistance in distant parts of
the world which was rendered by
other governments in similar circum-
stances. II may be that the policy
which is right at one time is not
right at another And it may be
that we have to learn that the pol
icy of government assistance becomes
necessary to procure the develop
mnt of what YOU might call the
master trades and to secure the ex-
tension of our commercial influence
through neutral countries hope
that wisdom may come to us all and
that in a true spirit of give and take
We ay get to a complete understand
ing"
Mr. BOnar Law was more specific
on putting aside old ideas and begin
HllS Il NJ" Uplltg. ne Sdiu
"T am under suspicion on one point
of view (protection), and the Chan
cellor of the Exchequer is under sus
picion on the other point of view
Cfree tradel1 But 7 am sure all will
agree that now everything has
changed and that we must begin
on new basis and put aside all pre-
conceived ideads
Il remember reading book by a
German economist. i'm which this
PASSAGE occurred: Where would De-
the German sugar industry, the
textile. the iron industry, now
created throughout the German En-
pire. without the rich English mar
ket always ready to receive our
goods? On the back of free trade
England we have tried to grasp the