The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-03-29
BRITISH EXPERTS CIVEV|EWS UPON
 TARIFF CHANGES
Government Officials Differ Slightly as to Means to
 Be Pursued.

London, March 29.-Two members of the Government, MT. McKenna, Chancellor of the Exchequer, who di- rects fiscal policy and frames tariff legislation and MT. Bonar Law, Min ister of Colonies, have given an idea of the Government attitude on the agitation which has been sweeping Manchester, Birnin gham and the great industrial centers, for a com pIete overturning of British policy g1V- ing free open markets for foreign goods, and the inauguration of new policy of tariff restriction.
 The two ministers represent the two extremes of sentiment within the Gov ernment on this fundamental Ques- ton of British policy, the Chancellor of the Exchequer belonging to the l.Cobden element strongly attached to the traditional doctrine of open mar kets, and Bonar Law representing the later element which took up Joseph ] Chamber1ain's campaign for protec- ton of home industries Each has made an address recently, showing 1 how both sides of the Government ap- proach the same conclusion that the war has changed everything and has opened the way for a new economic policy. The two ministers differ, how ever, in one respect, MT: Bonar Law holding that in the change to a tariff basis i've must begin on 3, new basis and put aside all proconceived ideas" while MT. McKenna maintains that proposed tariff changes will be the result of common agreement and en- Iistment from the war, rather than a surrender of old ideas.
 1 'I believe said MT. McKenna, ''that upon the great issue which once di- vided the nation (free trade) probably 1 the opinions of most of us remain un- changed. But it does follow, because upon that great issue we stand where we stood before-basing our opinions, each according to his own lights, on theoretical principles-that there is not a very large field for common agreement between It 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 Government to the development of foreign trade in order to ensure that those rivals who are now our bitter enemies shall not have the control of foreign trade which they have enjoyed in the past.
 'tI 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 as-
  which was rendered by other Govern ments in similar circumstances. It 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 policy of Government assist ance becomes necessary to procure the development of what you might call the master trades and to secure the extension 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 may get to a complete understand ing"
 MT. Bonar Law was more specific on putting aside old ideas and begin ming a new policy. He said:
 'EI am under suspicidh on one point of view fprotection) and the Chan picion on the other point of view Gree trade). But am sure all will agree that now everything has changed; and that we must begin on new basis and put aside all pre-conceived ideas.
 'EI remember reading a book by a German economist, in which this pas sage occurred: Where would be the German sugar. industry, the textile, the Iron industry, now created throughout the German Empire, without the rich English market always ready to re- ceive our goods? On the back of free
  the trade of the world'
 That was before /the war, and now we recognize the truth of it. One thing is sure, whatever else happens the resources of the British Empire will never be exploited as they have been in the past
 With these two responsible Ministers representing the two shades of view in the Government, agreeing that a change is in prospect, and differing only as tol whether this change sac rifceS old ideas, there seems little doubt that the change itself will take form as a Government measure radi- 1 cal1y departing from the old doctrine | of free open markets The extent of the change, a affecting the United States and other neutrals, is not yet in dicated, but the Morning Post gives it's view of what the change should be:
 We favor a scientific tariff con- /. structed in close consultation with the interests concerned. First of all the object is to make this nation and the British Empire strong. Then there is the object of strengthenine the alliance. We all recognize that this war is upon one side war of eco- homie liberation. Therefore it is pro- posed to give to the Allies better terms than to Germany. In this there must be no attempt in any way to secure a bargain for this country, but to offer . France, Russia, Italy and Japan ad- vantages as great as they offer us In i this exchange of benefits it is of the l first importance that the British Elm p1re should negotiate as a unit. 9th | erwise we might perpetuate that eco homie separation of the Mother Coun- | try and the Dorninions which we ought l to desire to end. Such a treaty with | the Allies involves a higher tariff for |