BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 86, 4 January 1908, Page 12

BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS.

THE UNfTED KINGDOM

LORD CROMER ON ritEE TRADE.

1 London, NoVembor 22.' At the banquet given in his honour at thb Unionist Free Trade Club) Lord. Cromer said he had. Veen- a Free Trader all his life, and

until recently he always thought' tho prin-

ciptes laid down by Sir R. Peel hi& 1 coadjutors some sixty, years ago: .were so generally accented in this .country that thero was no very great iiecd to bo armed at all points with the' very cogent arguments by which they iniglit be defended. If the-policy ; under which, for many years we had grown - and prospered were -reversed, one result would bo to qiiickßn into life whatever moro or less dormant Anglophobia existed throughout tho world. (Applause.) "Wo should transfer the jealousy now entertained by casual Chauvinists abroad to.tho countingbouse of .every foreign merchant'and manufacturer of! the Continent .of Europe. (Rear, hear.) Moreover, orico the passions which protection or, 'preference would , evoke had been let loose,, our present naval, establishments, great though they be, would be insufficient' to maintain the security of our vast ■ possessions. ■ ,y Incidentally on tho question: of expense, the noble lord observed that a section of the British public appeared,to be unmindful of the wise saying of that eminent economist, Bastiat, when he said that the State was the great/fallacy by whicli.everjr one thought that lie could dive, at the' expense of sorae- ■ body'else. (LaUghterO Protection involved 1 not merely an incroase in the ptico ■of all protected articles; but also a very; great probability that additional- taxes' wpuld. have to Ve imposed• to increase oilr naval, and, possibly also, our military establishments;, (Ap- . As an illustration 1 of tho; wisdom '' of allowing' Free Trade to form tho basis of an Imperial policy. Lord Cromer quoted the special clause' inserted in. tho , convention regulating the future of the Sudan to-the effect that no preference should bo given to the trade of any one nation. (Applause.) The ■ Minister 1 who '■ sanctioned this arrangement was'the .' late Lord Salisbury. (Applauso.) British trade had held its own well under this convention. (Hear, hear.) Oiie. of: the main reasons why, in spite of the difficulties of the situation,-wo had been, able; to do a good piece of work in Egypt, and why, we had eventually, been able to get Europe' to acquiesce in our continuance, of the work,. ' had been that during tho whole coiirße of the occupation the principles of Free Trade had been rigidly applied in that country. Once depart from, those principles, 1 and ho . was convinced that our occupation -of- Egypt ' would be regarded in a very different light frofo that in which it was now viewed. (Ap- ' plause.) • ■ . a ... v :., ■/ Further, the-reversal or our present Free Trade policy would havo far-reaching: effects in respect not 1 , only to." external ■ , ■ with foreign countries, biit also of. our. internal affairs. Take the question; of old-age' pensions, , Tariff; Roformers said., that the money could be raised •by a large increase of indirect taxation. He doubted whether the money could he so raised without killing the trade; WHEN MEN BECOME ANGELS. The " Forward,'' a 1 weekly journal devoted, to Socialism and Trade Unionism,'published; in Glasgow, publishes is letter from Lord. Balfour, of Burleigh, on A'Why I am fighting V Socialism." . :Lord Balfohr says' that, the - • essence ',of any, sclicme :far k' working plan of Socialism is that a "very, large, proportion ' of the earnings of bach individual are. to be takc-li'-frbrii hia in the.form ofHaxatioii,', aud'' presented to thb'so "who' havo not; earned.'jt; :■- either " the nation ,at large or' some section of .the nation.'': This obviously . tends_'to ' equalise the condition of men'who earn.with the condition of the men who do not. earn, ■ thus diminishing:' the"incehtive to .earn; This, .' in turn, must diminish 'production? and must, therefore, increase prices, aud that increase would naturally fall ■ hardest on those who aro I6ast well oif.

The advance of civilisation, lie. adds, has in the ;'phst been prabtiehlly guided whbJly' by tlm' enterprise of individuals; enterprise. is guided very largely by. the ddisire. for: wealth, and any scheme- for :the-confiscation of' priVato /wealth must' act adversely, upoii enterprise. \ ■ vin conclusion, he says, "Those, who,'dcBoribo themselves as Socialists,, point out tin evils of. the present. statel 'of society. I, f°i one will not deny: those evils,' but L do .affirm that Socialism will , not remody them, . but : will make them worse. Socialists seem to me to forget that society is composed of indiviand that whore the, character of the ihdividiial is imperfect, it .will, bp .iihpossibh to havo a stato of society which is .devoid of evils. We all feel, some perhaps mora tlinr others, where at the present 'time the shotpinches, but "a wholesale subversion Of. t-lii-existing structure of society will hot remedy those evils, and if wo'depart from tho watch-' words of-honesty, lil-ierty, and independence we are bound to fail. In a sense,. we. all may be Socialists now, but in.the words uf. tho late Bishop of London, ' Socialism cannot succeed till all men become r.i'.gels, and then there will be ho need for it.'"

RHODES SCHOLARS AT OXFORD.

The official report concerning the above is as follows: — ■ ' • A hundred and fifty-seven Rhodes Scholars were in residence at Oxtoi'd_at the begimuiig of tho October .term; iIW7, three' others, being temporarily absent. oil account of illness or for purposes Or opeeial study.; " At '• present there are 14 at iiaiiiol, 14 at Christ Church, 12 at Queen's, 11 tueli at ix'elv College and St. John's, lU each at Exeter, Worcester, and Merton, 9 at Uriel,' 8 lit 'Ma»tl<ilen, 7 each at Hertford, University, Wadham, and Trinity, 0: each at Bnueliose and Lincoln, oat i'oiabroke, each til Corpus and Jesus, aiid 1 each at lieble u;id bi. I'Mmund Hall. , Twenty-eight hew scholars . weto elected and entered into residence in October, Of these, six were i'roiii - Australia, Vjlghl from Canada, iivo from South Africa, om* each from Bermuda, Jamaica, Sev/fouudland, and Now Zealand, and live nom Germany.- No scholars irom the L*nited ; States wero elected for IUSJG. . . For IyUV 73 scholars were elected, 4.0 oi.. whom were from tho United Staiep; eigls>.. from Canada, six from Australia, live tro:ii ( South Africa, live from Germany, - and < olic cach from Bermuda, Jamaica, i Newfoumlland, arid New Zealand. ' Three States of the American Union failed to supply qualified candidates,, and the three scholarships provided for Rhodesia were not taken up. , Of tho scholars now in residence, 24 are reading literae huinaniores,' 18 modern history, 30 jurisprudence, 20 natural sdieiicc (geology, chemistry, physiology, aiul physics;, 9 English literature; II) theology, <1 mathematics, 4 modern languages, and 1 is reading for a pass, degree. . In courses more or less specialised or advanced than those for the lI.A. degree there are reading:—For the B.C.L. degree, 11; for the 15.Sc. degree, C; for tlio B.Litt. degree, 3; for medicine, 3; for diploma in economies,, 8; forestry, 1; research in chemistry, 1; and reading law generally, 2. ' Among tho distinctions gained by scholars during tiie year are: — H. ~J. Rose (Quebec, 1904): .Chancellor's pri;:e for Latin essay; elected official fellow at Exeter College. _ I. C. V. Behan (Victoria, 1004): Appointed law lecturer at University College. V>'. A. Barton (Now South Wales, - 1904): Yinerian lair.scholarship, £80 per annum for. three years. '. P.. L. Robinson (South Australia, 1905): Burdett-Contts scholarship ,in natural science, £115 per annum for two years. ,T. A. Thomson (Netv Zealand, 1904): Appointed lecturer in natural scienoo at St. John's College. , Henry Hinds (North Dakota, 1904): Demonstrator to assist tho professor,of geology for 1906-7. J. L. Walker (Western Australia, 1904): Bacon scholarship- at Gray's Inil, £45 per annum for two years.

NOTES FROM VARIOUS ■ SOURCES.

Of the 72 original members of this group who;should have completed their three years period list June, two died Ruling their term of rosidenco, one resigned his scholarship, three remain at Oxford on their owii account to pursue their studies; four German scholars, who were. only able to remain at the : university for, two years; went down in 1906."'.0f the roiriatndor, a few took their final examination as included in the report of 190 G. ■. , ... In the examinations of 1907 P. W. Robert- | son (New Zealand, 1905). gained a first-class in natural science (chemistry). , • Six scholars 1 (all South Afribatts) played in the Rugbv football team against Cambridge, and JV'., W. ■ Hoskiu, St; Andrew's College, Grahams'ibwn,. South Africa, was elected, captain ot-the,team!for 1907-8. Six scholars represented Oxford,against Cambridge in the athletic sporty four in lawn tennis, six in lacrosse, Jtliree-in water sports. , .. . THi2 RAILWAY SETTLEMENT. Mr. R. 8011, M.P., the general secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, was the recipient of a host of telegrams aiid letters of. congratulation on the sbttlement 'of the railway crisis. Most of them were from branches Of tho union. • "There : is "not ,iir the whole bundle one single expression of dissatisfaction," said Mr. Bell to an "Express" representative. This, he thought, was almost a sufficient re-ply-to the- criticism of the settlement made by Mr. Ramsay Mao Donald, M.P. that is settled without Mri MacDonald's gracious consent can be right," lie added;'- "Of bourse, we'kftbw that from-the first. ■ ' ' "l am not prenared to give up the result of a life's experience fw a trade unionist and a trade ■ union official 'in deference to the opinion of a man who has never been a trade '•unionist,-"and'who is Absolutely irresponsible even'to a single individiihl.", 1 . Mr. Bell declared.his satisfaction with the settlement in an address to his oonsituenta at Dorby,"lt may appear that wo have not got recognition," he said, "but now wo shall have it, if the, men desire it, when we get to the Arbitration Court.' ; Vl'hiope that the words 'climb down' will not be brought into the controversy. , A bargain is not a climb down, but if anyone chooses to call it a' climb d6wn, I say that the climbing-down has been. equal on both sides.' It 'if a bargain in which'both sides have given ;way. \ .' • "I saw some of the directors at the close of .■ the, proceedings at the . Board of Trade, and they - expressed tho liopo tlmt hereafter there- woiild' he nothing but friendship on both'- sides. They endorsed my sentiments." Tho executive committee of • tho Associated -Society of Locomotive Engineers and 'Firemen,' of which Mr. A. Fox is secretary, mot in Lbeds, and endorsed tho action of its representatives in signing the railway agree- • lhenti •••'•' _ ,

• At a general meeting of railway clerks at Manchester 'a resolution was unanimously passed'protesting 1 against. tho exclusion of the clerical staffs from tlie settlement,' and doelaririg tliat it was:a serious grievance. - It' is Stated by the "RailwaV Gazbtto" that noW 'theirailwaymen'B agitation is satisfac-' torily settled, -Mr. 'Lloyd-George intends" to devote his attention to the question of railway'rates; '■

. NEW NAVY LEAGUE. A weft-attended public , meeting of protest ''against tho grievous weakening of our naval 'strength"' .was held,in St.. Mary Mag,';kiene's.iParish., Hail,' Wandsworth., - Sir Henry .Ember, M.P., - presided, and tho speakers included Messrs. Harold Frazer :Wyatt, L. Horton-Smith, Algernon. Black,: and F. W. Lucas. Mr. Wyatt opened by., stating that they were there to, consider the most, yital subject that could be dealt with by Englishmen. 'Four 'days after the First Sea Lord had made his now notorious speech at the Guildhall, .Admiral Sir.Frederick Richards sent a letter ■to a dinner of the London Chamber of Com,:'nerce, ■ in - which.; he. urged jihe , need of a .public',! enquiry. into the state of tho Navy ■.applause),.. ..That was ■ vcrj' _ different from' what Sir John Fisher had said. Mr; Wy.ittspoke strongly agflinst. tho coming of tho First LorS' of tho. Admiralty between tho Government of the day and their political ..ipporibnts. Sir John Fisher had declared ■;hat the Board. ; of Admiralty, which ■ practically, meant, himself, had taken fresh means to secure:their object.. , ; .What-are those means? There 'was a .lot-tor.-whioh .appeared on October;, 19 in "The .'-.ltandard" from a naval officer.in tho ChanMi Fleet,., in which it was .assorted that ,ihe of the means-was a.system of espionage, .'/Inch, the writer declared, was now in forco • throughout the Navy. From private letters, tho assertions ■ mado ■ in t'"e letter in "The Standard" wore corroborated up . to the hilt ("Shame"). That 'otter Said that tho men on bbiird the ships

vore afraid to speak aboVe a whisper about he state of naval policy. Sir John Fisher iad also used , tho means of favouritism, [fe was the author of tho words "Favouritism is the secret of efficiency." That was a terrible and an awful pronouncement to come from a man in his position. Continuing, Mr. Wyatt pointed out lioiv the defects in tho Navy .had been made known • in those papers which had resisted the blandishments of the authorities, men!ioninff "The Standard" aild tho "Daily Ex[jress. These.ddfccts included reduction of iwrsonnclf and the .Spcakor pointed ,to the i'jiot that' tlio Home. Fleet was supposed to iiiclnde 2-10. ships. There wero actually 130 ~!nps. fChbrb were two reasons' why the .)U;»rs'were missing. One was that there were not the men to man them, and • tho ..i.hor was possibly that the ships were unfit l j). so to ..sort ("Shame"). There was also a i)-oat neglect "£ repairs, and hero he referred 'o. the list given in the columns of "The Standard" some time ago, showing what iveie the ships concerned. Tlitl torpedo flotilla, ho asserted, was largely crippled chroughi nicßleot of repairs. Air. Avyatt then briefly outlined the objects of the new Navy League. They wanted Vital league which would go out into tho country and say that the time had come to rnuse the sleeping soul of England and to :i;j;lit on behalf of the future Of the Empire

•'.iid the safeguarding of the seaS. -The now Icitguo would lirgo that this effort to keep. :ho command of the sea should bo tho first •ibirct of English policy. They wanted it to lie' certain that whatever forces tho .country possessed should bo used to the best advan-

tage;. also "that the men in the. mercantile ■nariiie 'should be real Britishers (loud apolaiiso). 'He then moved tho following rysohition, which was soconded by Mr. HortonSmith:— - "That this meeting deeply deplores the continued reductions in the Navy Estimates,

'.vith thoir results in tho diminution of tho 'lumber.of men, tho neglect of repairs, and the lessoning of training at sea; and it

stronglv endnrscS the.recommendation of Admiral Sir Ffedei'ick Richards, that a public enqnirv should be Held into the stato of the Navy." ,

Sir HenryvTumbcr then put. the resolution to the meeting, remarking that he agreed'. with all that the previous speaker had said. It was enrried practically unanimously, Compandor Crutchley and Dr. Ginsburg making the only'protest. • , A.FICTION SHATTERED. .The, .f,British Medical Journal" does cheorful ponanco in a white {and black) sheet this..week.-for a picturesquo little fablo, for the setting of which ill circulation it admits that it was to some estent responsible. This is the story that the Queen of Portugal 13 a .qualified doctor, an error into which ono of our- correspondents recently fell in our own columns. .The fact is that Her Majesty devotes a -large part of lior timo to philanthropy, and- takes a special intorest in the dispensary established in Lisbon for poor children. " Her Majesty," says the "British Medical Journal," " has novor even thought of studying mOdicino, still les3 of passing examinations, and her Whole interest in tho subject is pno of pnre philanthropy. Tho Source from which tho information was obtainod precludes all possibility of mistako. But wo havo no doubt tho legend will continue to live; it is so much nloro interesting than tho plain truth.'-'