THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2071, 4 May 1907, Page 2

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

- Press Association. —Copyright. INADEQUATE REPORTS. . LONDON, May 2

The Premiers are incensed .at the ludicrous inadequacy and inaccuracy of the precis of the discussions. The newspapers evince extraordinary interest in ’the proceedings, and clamor for fuller publicity. Sir IL. C. Bannerman, speaking in the House of Commons, hinted that a full report would be published after the conference. Certainly no preferential treatment would be extended to one subject over another. So fur as the Government were concerned he hoped every syllable would he published.

THE PREMIERS FETED. LONDON, May 2. The Victoria League, Lady Jersey presiding, presented the Premiers at the Imperial Institute with an address of welcome signed by 2000 members. Mr. Deakin, in acknowledging the gift, referred humorously to the interference with the work of the Im perial Conference by banqueting and gaieties, which departmental satirists might almost have supposed to have been carefully planned with a view of distracting from the business of the Empire, or presenting a better understanding. Ho added, in a half cheery vein, “Despite such surround ings we will not be crushed.” (Clim-s) If wo seek in vain for some things in official circles for sympathy and assistance, for the helping hand extended out to us in our remote countries, anil for the action here so all-import-aut at the centre, wo can look to leagues and voluntary organisation of citizens to fill the place that official circles are inclined to leave empty. (Cheers.) The League deserved the cordial thanks of the pooplcs of the Outer Empire. If you receive less than mere recognition here; if the cold shoulder is turned to the League as it is to us, remember that there are warm hands at the-other side of the globe grasping yours. After all this country has been created as

much without its Governments, and sometimes despites its Governments, as with them.”

Sir Joseph AA’ard, who followed,was equally applauded. He referred to the teaching of the Empire’s history in New Zealand, and that hoys wer. trained to use the rifle. Mr. Churchill started to attend, hut wrote regretting that he ha I been recalled t*> the Co’onial Oifice on urgent business.

Nearly one thousand wer*> present at tlie Austral Club’s reception of the Premiers. At the Chamber of Commerce banquet to the Premiers six hundred guests were present. Sir Joseph Ward, replying to the toast!' of “Parliaments of the Empire,” said every great national conunmi'ty should have a voire in the management. c f the Empire. He asked, “Is it not worth impressing those who do not see eye to dye with us on preference that we should carefully consider llnpossibility and potentialities of cui great Empire?” Air. Deakin, replying to the toast of “Consolidation of the Empire,” promised the Chamber of Commerce delegates the heartiest welcome to Australia when they attended the Conference in 1909. Tlieir voyage would soon dispel apprehension as to Australia. Sentimental sympathy with the Alotherland’s trade' had made tho Empire’s trade, and must continue to maintain it; therefore ilnvoice of the trader should be the first to receive public attention. “Can you not trust yourselves,” he added, “to make bargains with your own kith and kin?”

PREFERENTIAL TRADE. LONDON, Alay 2

Air. Asquith point-blank refused any fiscal preference. He indicated vaguely the possibility of assisting steam lines and cables.

Air. Deakin asked if Air. Asquith meant to exclude consideration of Air. liofmeyer’s and Sir Sydenham Clarke’s schemes, which involved neither protection nor frectrado. Air Asquith asked for time to consider his reply. Sir AV. Lyno dissented with Air. Asquith,and said that from the foundation to tho summit his pronouncement was calculated to lessen the

sympathies of tho colonies. Ho resented Mr. Asquith’s attempts to be- • little the valuo of preference. tDr. Jameson (Capo Colony) in a clover speech, endorsed every word Mr. Doakin had said. The colonies were ripe for action, and all were waiting tho British Government’s decision. Tho colonies had not asked Britain to sacrifice her fiscal principles, but asked her to change her methods adopted and to practice the prinicple of preference, if only by reducing the existing duties. He dwelt on the great advantage to South Africa if the duties on tobacco and wine were reduced, and emphasised that the two territories of South Africa were absolutely under the control of tho British Government. He had been directed to adhere to the Customs Union of South Africa, which gave preference to the Motherland. lie hoped that indicated a possibility of another advance. He mentioned that a minority of the Cape Parliament were opposed to further preference, and possibly opposed even to a continuance of the present preference unless Britain was prepared to give reciprocity to some small extent. Mr. Moore (Natal) urged an experimental reduction of the duty on tobacco. The debate will be resumed today. Mr. Ramsay Macdonald, in a letter to tlie Times, ridicules tho puny benefit which Australian preference offers. He considers that if Blitain accepts she penalises Canada, New Zealand, and India as if they were foreign States. The Premiers are receiving many hundreds of tariff reform resolutions from all over tho country. The Freetrade Leagues declare they could do the same if they chose. Received May 3, 9.2 p.in. LONDON, May 3. Mr. Mackay, on behalf, of India, regretted being at variance with the autonomous colonies, though the In-. dian Government tried to regard preference from an Imperial as well as an Indian standpoint. Under the existing system India enjoyed a highly advantageous position. Her external sea-borne trade increased GO per cent, in a decade. Some of lier best customers were protected countries, in Europe, without whose market she would be unable to disjso.se of her produce. If India kept outside preference, foreigners might treat her separately, but otherwise they might retaliate, hurting Indian trade. India had nothing to gain by the Empire adopting a system of tariffs discriminating against foreign manufactured products and foodstuffs. The risk and sacrifices involved were.too great for India to accept. Any preference granted to the United Kingdom by the autonomous colonics ought also to be granted to India. General Botha said he personally favoted preference, hut ho was not long enough in office to get a mandate from the Transvaal. He therefore adhered to the resolution of 1902.

Sir P. Bond adhered to the resolution of 1902 though Newfoundland desired to co-operate in the policy of preference. Mr. Asquith acknowledged the ability and clearness of the colonial case presented and complimented Dr. Deakin’s able exposition. He noticed that nothing wa'S said calculated to weaken the sense of Imperial union, or any determination to cement the unity. He dwelt on the great advantage of discussing such subjects face to face. Sir Wilfrid Laurier had often emphasized that the basis of unity must be the right of each member of the Empire to first regard its own interest. Received May 3, 10.58 p.m.

The essential characteristic of the Empire was its combined loyal attachment to each other with the com--1 pletest freedom and self-government. British statesmen had never forgotten the lesson of American independence and would not attempt again to ' force a fiscal policy on a reluctant possession. The colonies were granted full fiscal independence and even * used it to build up tariff walls against the Motherland. If the colonies desired to foster industries by protective tariffs their action would not evoke remonstrance or criticism from him. Some had given preference to the Motherland but did not admit the Motherland’s manufac- ! tures to compete on equal terms with local producers. Doubtless the colonies held that it was vital to their interests. Similarly the British Government held free-trade-vital to the Briish interest, even more so than in Sir Robert Peel’s day. “We lave,” ho said a population of 41,000,000 hearing an enormous debt, also the cosVof Imperial diplomacy and defence. The population is dependent for food and raw materials on external sources of supply. Britain maintains her supremacy owing to her- special productive activity. The profits obtained from the biggest open market in the world are enormous.” All was based on keeping food and raw materials on the same basis and as nearly as possible at the same Price. Tree-trade was no shibboleth, but a principle of vital national interest. After an elaborate tariff reform campaign the British 'people had declared in favor of free-trade, * by a majority of unexampled size.' The British Government was unable to accept any infringement of that policy even by adopting Dr. Jameson's idea of experimental .reduction on tobacco and wine. In reply to Mr. Deakin’s complaint of being excluded from foreign markets by . hostile tariffs, Mr. Asquith declared that they practically everywhere enjoyed most favored nation treatment. They stood in a better position in protected markets than did nations under a protective system. Next to India and Ceylon, Germany, was the best market abroad for the products of the United Kingdom, though the volume of British trade had largely increased, proportionally as between the colonies and foreign countries it remained practically constant. Examining preference he admitted that South Africa was very liberal but it was too early to judge of tile effect on British trade. The Canada tariff benefited British trade rather'*' bv stopping a decrease than by an actual increase. Canadian inaniifircturers renufln protected. Taking an average on nil goods dutiable, free . and ad valorem, the rate for tho'United Kingdom on goods was 19 per cent, and the United States 13 per cent.

Received Alay 3, 11.17 p.m. Air. Asquith said the Australian proposal only applied to 8 per cent of the United Kingdom’s products. Tlie maximum profit, to tho British importer would not exceed £loo>ooo. Air. Deakin and Sir W. Lyne interjected: “That is only an instalment.” Air. Asquith: “Perhaps so, but I am dealing with facts.” Preference was only given to goods in British ships with white labor. This was a serious consideration involving the policy oi tho British Government. Ho had not intended to criticise, and only wished' to show the difficulties in the way oi a preferential tariff. It would bo advantageous in a countiy where they had a system of protection, but in a freetrado country whole duties wore levied for revenue only the difficulty was much greater. Air. Asquith complimented Sir Joseph AVard’s able and powerful advocacy of preference. Ho thought some of bis suggestions valuable. Air. Asquith remarked that the New Zealand preference covered only 2$ per cent of tho import trade besides unlowered duties, but raised them againgt foreigners. Britain at present offered the freest possible market. Preferential tariffs Jnvolved giving less to other peoplo and not

more to tlio colonies tlioy involve, setting up a system of now duties which infringe the principles of freetrade. On the question of principle there was no possibility of such compromises as some suggested. Mr Asquith proceeded to consider on what preference must bo given if it was given at all. In 1905 Britain imported from the colonies £5,500,000 of articles wholly or partly manufactured, ,002,800,000 worth of .raw material, and £2i,250,000 of drink and tobacco. Preference to be valuable must be in respect of raw materials. If such were granted the very citadel of freetrade was attacked- r rho sources of supply would bo restricted, and the prices raised. The Government and people of England accepted that view. They were therefore unable to accept the principle of preferential trade by tariff preference. The discussion had thrown light on other methods of improving inter-imperial trade. He especially referred to Sir Joseph Ward’s suggestions for the improvement of means of communication, especially as to steamer services, the increase of the number of commercial agents in the colonies, the desirability of removing or reducing the Suez Canal dues, and the establishing of a fast mail line to Australasia via Canada. All these matters the British Government was fully ready to consider. and to co-operate in any practical proposal. Considering, he said, this more earnestly, he had felt it necessary to state that the general policy was not in accord with the views of the colonies. The Conference generally considered Mr. Asquith delivered an exceptionally clear, cogent, and powerful speech from the standpoint of abstract freetrade. SIR JOSEPH WARD’S VIEWS. Received May 4, 12,34 p.m. LONDON, May 3. Sir Joseph Ward says he is not surprised at the Government’s general attitude, nor did he challenge Britain’s right to adhere to'wlmtever policy she considered best suited to her circumstances, but he had hoped tlio Government might have seen its way to give preference in a few special articles like wheat, meat a nil dairy, produce, since active colonial competition would keep prices as low as now. He thought such a policy of specializing was quite consistent with free-trade. AVhile disappointed that nothing was done in the direction of preference, he was pleased at the prospect of the Suez Canal, charges and providing mail service which would place Australia within fifteen days of London and New Zealand within, twenty being considered of importance.