THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8438, 9 May 1907, Page 5

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

RESOLUTIONS CARRIED.

Received May 8, 8.38 a.m. LONDON. May 7. At the Imperial Conference" Sir Wilfrid Laurier's motion, reaffirming the preference resolutions of the conferencejof 1902, was carried after the British Government had recorded its dissent. The resdution moved by the British Government was amended on the motion of Mr Deakin and Sir Joseph Ward, and was then carried. It leaves each part of the Empire at liberty to select the most suitable means of promoting the greater freedomjand fuller development of commercial intercourse within the Empire, and recognises the desirability of co-operating in matters of mutual interest. ' Mr Lloyd-George having taken up so much time, the confereni-e had to adjourn the debate for another day to enable Mr Winston Churchill (UnderSecretary for the Colonies) to speak. Mr Deakin vainly urged that the conference should sit earlier and later in order to expedite business. (The following are the resolutions which were adopted by the conference of 1902:—(a) "That this conference tecognises that the principle of preferential trade between the United Kingdom and his Majesty's Dominions beyond the seas would stimulate and facilitate mutual commercial intercourse, and would, by promoting the development of the resources and industries of the several parts, strengthen the Empire." (b) "That this conference recognises that, in the present circumstances of the colonies, it is not practicable to adopt a general system of Freetrade as between the Mother Country and the British dominions beyond the sea." ' (c) "That, with a view, however, to promoting the increase of trade within the Empire, it is| desirable that those colonies which have not already adopted such a polity, should, as far as their circumstances permit, give substantial preferential treatment to the products and "manufactures -of the United Kingdom.")

Received May 8, 10.8 p.m. LONDON; May 8. I Lord Elgin said that personally he was satisfied, and would accept Messrs Asquith and George's statements, but Mr Churchill would say a few words. Mr Winston Churchill dealt chiefly with the Parliamentary Party, and the diplomatic aspects of preference. He declared that any scheme must contain dangerous possibilities ofmischief, and prove an aggravation of political Jperils. He could imagine nothing more injurious to good relations than the raising of bitter quea-1 tions of taxation every year which were certain to lead to severe criticisms in the colonies, causing an inexhaustible source of vexation. Preference was only possible by means of the taxation of six or seven staple articles of food and raw materials, which tbe United Kingdom never would accept. However light the duties were they were bound to affect "prices' which Jimpoverished people would be sure to resent. Concessions 'bringing, such results would cause, sullen anger, and were certain to breed unhappy consequences besides greatly intensifying party)hitternes3, and immensely increasing the difficulties to which they, were already exposed in tho discharge of Parliamentary business. Mv Churchill said many favouring preference as an evidence of goodwill would recoil from the" necessary schedule.? of taxation. He thought it possible that a good result would come from Sir J. G. Ward's suggestions, which were a deflection from the uhoct question of preference. Tuj colonies should bluntly state what taxes preference would impose on the Motherland. It was highly dangerous to associate the idea of an Empire in the minds, of the masses with enhanced prices. If the electors ever demanded the removal of the food tax, and found it necessary to consult the Governments scattered over the world, th 3 structure of the Empire would receive a shock such as it never before sustained. Some day, when Imperial unification had reached a higher development, men would regard the decision of the Conference of 1907 as a successful avoid ance of one grand wrong turn. Sir Wilfrid Laurier preferred to re-affirm the resolutions of 1902 to the adoption of Mr Deakin's resolutions, though he concurred with the first of Mr Deakin's two additional resolutions. Sir Wilfrid Laurier stated that preference certainly increased Canada's and Britain's trade, and admitted Britain's absolute right to adopt whatever fiscal system was best suited to her internal conditions. He would be glad to apply Canada's lower preferential tariff to all British colonies. Sir Wilfrid Laurier claimed that there was no justification on the ground of sanitation in continuing excluding Canadian live cattle. Mr Asquith promised that the Board of Agriculture should seriously consider the subject. Received May 8,10.55 p.m. LONDON, May 8. Mr Deakin, replying to MrChurchill, thought that he had allowed his imagination to run Tiot in an unnecessarily alarmist fashion. Even if no preference was conceded the questions'of taxation must constantly arise in every Legislature of the Empire without such destructive results as JMr Churchill extravagantly | pictured. The House of Commons would deal with the business on its merits, and adopt the constitutional machinery to the country's circumstances. Mr Deakin challenged the whole tenor of Mr Churchill's arguments because they were based on a series of economic assumption, only applicable to particular circumstances, and entirely inapplicable to actual facts. Business competition, especially as reflected by national , rivalry and colonial Parliamentary experience, showed that the dangers Mr ChurchiU predicted were not very grave.

CABLE NEWS,

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright