IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 116, 18 May 1903, Page 3

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

BPEKCH BY MB CHAMBERLAIN. BRITAIN'S IMPERIAL POLIOY. PREFERENTIAL TRADE WITH THE COLONIES. "-AN ELOQUENT DEFENCE. t STARTING' POINT OF NEW BELA- ' TIONS. • _ | MB PRESS ASSOCIATION. I Received 17, 4.3) p.m. Loudon, May 16. Mr Chamberlain addressed his constituents at Birmingham Town Hal), lnd waß given a tremenious ovation. Dealing with the question of South Africa, be emphasised his hopes of its unification. » Upon his return from South Africa he found not an Imperirl but a local question Billing the minds of the public.

_ Our Imperial policy, he Baid, was vital to the colonies and vital to Great Britain. Referring, to trade preference as effered by Canada and Australasia, he said he was not a Protectionist, but if a narrow interpretation of free trade current in "Home circles prevailed in .' the Motherland, she would lose the advantage of that further reduction in duty Canada was now offering. Germany's action in paoa'i-ing Canada for making <ra effer of preferential trade relations, was intended to de'er others' from giving the Motherland a similar advantage. It was a threct •gainst South Africa and Australasia. This policy of dictation and interference was justifi.-d by the belief that we were so wedded to a fiscal system that we cannot -interfere to defend the colonies, and that any of those attempting to establish spec'al relations with ns must bear the brunt of foreign hostility. That was a humiliating position whereof it was-easy to predict the consequences. How could we ask the colonies to bar their Bbare of the Empire's burden, along with a share in the privileges? They would Bay:What privileges ? We treat you as relations and fiicnds by giving you preference. Ton reap the benefit and leave us to fight our own battle, v Mr Ohambeliin asked: Is that ft ee trade?

Oriesof "No, no!" Ur Chamberlain, "continuing, said: | It wia absolutely a new situation, and on 6 that was not contemplated by the authors of Fre.trade. CoVlen did not hesitate to make a treaty of preference and reciprocity with France, and John Bright, approved. Both tf them today would make a similar treaty with oor'fchildren. • [This statement the meeting greeted with prolonged oherring.] Mr added: The people of the Empire bavQ got to consider this situation. I do not want to hasten their decision. The first alternative is the wrong interpretation mentioned before. The second is that we should Insist not to bi bound by any technicil definition of Fre abrade, and while we nek a freer interchange of trade with a natioo, we would recover our freedom and power of negotiation, if tecessary, by retaliation, whenever our inheres's w relatioas between the c bnies and ourselves are threatened, (Loud cheers) Mr Chamberlain contiaued bis speech with a peroration in favour of a self—"sustaining, self-sufficient Empire. There is a concensus of opinion amongst the Liberal Unionises that the speech is meant as an earnest, frank, and loyal warning to Mr Chamberlain's colleagues. The Standard predicts the speech will bs remembered as the starting point cf a new deve'opmeat in party reUtions.

. 6PBEOH BX UB BALFOUB. CORN TAX. FISCAL UMON WITH THB OOIiONIKS. Received 17,4 56 pan. , London, May 16. Mr Balfour, replying to a great deputation against the remission of the tax on corn, deeded it was ever intended to be ~a permanent part of tbe country's fiscal system. It was, be taid, a war tax, and must be connected with great national need?, or agreat change of the national pol'cyof protection. It could not te'introduced quietly or accidentally, but only on a tbe impulse of the whole people. He favoured universal Freetrade. The protection in force in other countries gave us many advant•g®B, A fiscal union with the colcn'es would bj difficult to arrange, though' it might some day be passible, but it could not come from one or two industries, but from the heait and intellect of the people. 818 H. OAMPBEiX-BANNERMAN'S YIKWS. Received 17, 5.14 p.m. Sir H. Gampbell-Bannerman, speaking at Scarborough, said that if the preferential claims of the autonomous colonies were admitted, India and the Grown Colonies must follow tbem. There wou'd then bs a Chinese wall round the Empire, Britishers from the battlements shooting defi*nce at the world. Such a policy contained the inevitable Eeeds of dismemberment.