FISCAL UNITY OF THE EMPIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 118, 20 May 1903, Page 3

FISCAL UNITY OF THE EMPIRE.

AMERICAN COMMENDATION. G3RMAN AUDACITY. • PER PBESS ASSOCIATION. London, May 18. Most of the Unionist newspapers trace a certain sympathy between the views of Mr Bilfour and Mr Chamberlain on the fiscal unity of the Empire, printing to Mr Bilfoui's statement that though such a union is difficult he would regird the consummation with unfeigned pleasure, and adding that the trifling da y on fo:d impirt* might be pwt of a general system. Tha Opposition newspapers it siat that thera ha divergent between Mr Bilfour and Mr Chamberlain. The latter's policy would precipitate Imperial disunion. Ttie New York correspondent of the Times says that the Americin newspapers applaud Mr Chambe Liu's

geuine politic U sagacity, and declare that his policy is the starting point of a new epoch. The Cape Times says that Mr Cham- J berlain has set up a new current in the Btream cf national feeding, and bis is the first definite avowal of a policy that is destined inevitably to bs adopted. The Times, commenting on the penalisation of Canada's commerce, condemns Germany's astounding audaci'y in denying the B itfsh Empire's right to manage her own domestic affairs.

: - GERMANY SCEPTICAL. SOUTH ABBIOA FAVOURABLE. "Beceivea 19,11.50 p.m. Losdon, May 18. The gis L i cf farther German rpioicn is that a self-sufficing' British Empire is impossible; that any favour shown to the colonies, do mitter how materia), Will be detrimental to industry from a competitive standpoint, and Germany will be better able to faca a tariff w*r with Britain than Britain can with Germany. Some German newspapers imply that the price of Germany's friendship should be acquiescence in the irj.iry of our own interests, the Vosaiche Zeitung pointedly remarking that Mr Chamberlain's advice to England and the colonies could scarcely conduce to the improvement of Germany's political relations with Britain.

There have been many interviews w|th Sir VV. Laurier and Sir Gordon Bp-igg, who have declined to express their views.

Sir. A. H. Him°, Premier of Natal, favors a preferential tariff and recipro ■ cil treatment. He added that the , Bloemfontein conference considered the possibility of continental retaliation, ', which did not, however, have sufficient , weight to deter tfce ddega'e3 from framing their resolutions. ■ Lord Milosr said it would be im- : proper for him to express an opinion on Mr. Chamberlain's policy. It was quite obvious, however, that the feeling in South Africa in favor of pieferenthl treatment would ba greatly strengthened if the Motherland showed appreciation of the Bloemfontein conference resolutions. Mr Smart declared that Mr Chamberlain's speech was the most masterly utterance delivsred for many a dayIt was the only policy whereby an Empire could ba federated, ss it rev lis f d, apart from sentiment, the necessity tot bonds of commercial unity. \ Mr Hofmeyer agreed with Mr j Chamberlain, if the speech implied J reciprosal tarifls between the colonies and the Motherland, and was inclined to think the o<pa Parliament would adhere to the Bloam-1 fontein preference proposals if th« admission or exclusion of the Cape from the Customs Union was depe ideut on its acceptance, nevertheless any onesided preference would hardly endure. Received 20, 0.57 a.m. Melbouene, May 19. Sir E. Barton declißes to comment on Mr Ohamberliin's speech, except to say that he puts the position very ■trongly. ■