TARIFF REFORM.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1133, 22 May 1911, Page 5

TARIFF REFORM.

LORDSELBORNE ON EMPIRE'S FUTURE. By TeleErapn-Preas Asßociation-CoDyricht London, May 19. In the Houso of Lords the Earl of Selhorne raised a debate on tho Ameri-can-Canadian reciprocity Agreement. He said it was tho first time a part of the Empire had obtained better terms from a foreign country than Britain and the rest of : tho Empire. The precedent was capable of largo extension, and if it becaino general it was difficult to see how tho Imperial system was going to work. His lordship criticised tho British Government's supinenoss ill the matter, and said the only escape from tho difficulties ahead was by the adoption of a system of Imperial preference with joint Imperial negotiations with foreign countries. Lord Lucas, Under-Secretary for the Colonies, replied that the Government was not alarmed at the crumbling of tho American-Canadian tariff wall. It was impossible for Britain to interfere without infringing Canada's fiscal liberty. He agreed that Britain was entitled to the samo treatment as Canada, and said that tho British Foreign Office did not accept the American interpretation of the most-favoured-nation clause. Viscount Haldane, Secretary for War, said the enlargement of Canada's trado with the "United States would increase the markets for British goods. Ho added: "We regard preference as an utterly unscientific policy."