IMPERIAL ZOLVEREIN.

Hastings Standard, Issue 112, 4 September 1896, Page 3

IMPERIAL ZOLVEREIN.

GOING FROM HOME TO HEAR NEWS.

Sydney, This day. A case of going from home to learn news is instanced in the Premier's opinion of the Hon J. Chamberlain's Imperial Zolverein scheme. The Times, which was received by the last English mail, published a cable which says in Mr Eeid's opinion all attempts to negotsate a commercial alliance between Great Britain and the Colonies are idle, because success is impossible. He goes further, and expresses a strong opinion that any successful attempt to bind the Colonies and Motherland together by the proposed Zolverein would create an intolerable situation, in which the present feeling of loyalty would be filtered away by clashing with the selfish trade interests of the various parts of the Empire. The bearing of the Zolverein upon the foreign relations of Great Britain might be even more unhappy. The opening of British ports to friends and foes alike seemed madness to the Tories of fifty years ago, yet the National flag flies more safety and proudly than ever. London has become the commercial and financial magnet of the world as the result of the wise principles of trade, which are as generous as they are sound. If England's power must pass away, better let it die a natural death than endeavor to prolong the decay by closing the wide Imperial gates of fiscal coalition. Great Britain and her scattered colonies might easily unite the rest of the world in a hostile combination armed with the view of a substantial motive for revenge.