CHAMBERLAIN’S SPEECH.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 896, 20 May 1903, Page 2

CHAMBERLAIN’S SPEECH.

FISCAL UNITY OF THE EMPIRE.

By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. LONDON, May IS. Most, Ot (he Unionist, papers trace a certain sympathy between Mr Balfour's and Mr Chamberlain's views oit ihc fisea! unity of the Empire, pointing to Mr Balfour's statement that, ihough such a union was dillieull. he would l uxat'd 11s i/onsuiinn.tMoi! v. nil pleasure, adding U»al «i liiil. tig duly on food imports might he a part of the general system. The Opposition newspapers insist that there is a divergence between Mr Balfour ami Mr Chamberlain, and the hitlers policy would precipitate Imperial disunion. Tiie New lurk eoirespomlent of the Times says that American papers applaud Mr Chamberlain's genuine poli(al sagacity, ami state that Ins policy is Liu* starting point of a new epoch. The Cape Times says that Mr Chamberlain has set up a new current in the stream of national feeling, ami the lirst delinite avowal of a policy destined inevitably to he adopted. The Times, commenting on the penalising of Canada's commerce, condemns Germany's astounding audacity' in denying the British Empire the right to manage her domestic affairs.

YAK 10US OPINIONS,

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Kcceived 11. GO p.m., May 19. London, May IS. Tho gist of further German opinion is that a self-suLlicietit 15iitish Empire is impossible, that any favor shown tho colonies, no matter how material, will bo detrimental to industry from a competitive standpoint, and that Germany is better able to face a tariff war with Britain than Entaiii with Germany. Some German newspapers imply that the price of Germany’s friendship should bo tho acquiescence in injury to our own interests, the Yossiehc /.eitung pointedly remarking that Mr Chamberlain s udvieo to England and tho colonies could scarcely conduce to an improvement of Germany s political relations with Britain. There have been many interviews with Sir Wilfrid Laurier and Sir Gordon Spngg, who declined to express their views. Sir 11. A. llune, Premier of Natal, favors a preferential tin ill, with reciprocal treatment. lie added that the Bloemfontein Conference considered the possibility of Continental ictaliation which was not, however, of sufficient weight to deter tho delegates framing resolutions. Lord Milner said that it- would ho improper for him to express an opinion oil Mr Chamberlain’s policy. It was quito obvious, however, that the feeling in South Africa in favor of preferential treatment would ho greatly strengthened if tho Motherland showed appreciation of tho Bloemfontein Conference resolutions. Mr Smartt declared that Mr Chamberlain's speech was tho most masterly delivered for many a day. It was the only policy whereby the Empire would bo federated, realising apart from sentiment tho necessity for bonds of commercial* unity. Mr Ilofmeycr agreed with Mr Chamberlain if the speech implied reciprocal tariffs between the colonies and tho Motherland, and was inclined to think tho Cape Parliament would adhere to tho Bloemfontein preference proposals if admission or exclusion of tho Capo from tho Customs Union was dependent on acceptanCol Nevertheless any ono sided preference would hurdly endure.

Sydney, May 19.

Sir E. Barton declines to comment on Mr Clnimbcrlain’a speech, except to &uy that ho puts the position very strongly.