MR CHAMBERLAIN.

Evening Star, Issue 11890, 19 May 1903, Page 6

MR CHAMBERLAIN.

HIS BIRMINGHAM SPEECH. WELCOMEITIN CANADA. CONSTERNATION" IN GERMANY. Press .Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. OTTAWA, May 18. Mr Chamberlain’s speech has aroused extraordinary interest in Canada. The Hon. W. 8. Fielding, K.C., Canadian Minister of Finance, in the course of on interview, expressed his satisfaction. The President of the Board of Trade in Ottawa predicts that the speech will be heartily reciprocated in the colonies. The Montreal ‘ Gazette ’ says that the discussion of Imperial preferential trade is brought nearer to the realm of practical statesmanship. The ‘Mail and Empire,’ a Toronto journal, declares that the basis is laid for a great Imperial policy.

BERLIN, May 18. Mr Chamberlain’s speech has made a deep impression in Germany. The newspapers are cautions, but recognise the seriousness of the economic issues raised. The ‘Vossiche Zeitnng’ says that the British colonies are loosely connected with the Mother Land, are economically quite independent, and control their own commercial relations with foreign countries without considering the Mother Land. The Commonwealth Customs policy caused bitter disappointment in London and in other as well as in Imperialist circles, while the Colonial Conference showed how little the colonies were prepared to abandon their existing systems.

The ‘National Zeitnng’ says that Germany remains firm in her attitude of commercial defence against Canada, but will not allow herself to be driven into political opposition between Canada and her Mother Land.

CAPE TOWN. May 18. The ‘Cape Times’ says that if Great Britain shapes her policy on the lines of Mr Chamberlain’s speech the only plausible objections of the opponents of a South African preferential tariff will disappear. MR BALFOUR’S VIEWS. OPPOSITION COMMENTS. AMERICA AND AFRICA APPROVE. THE DAWN OP A EPOCH. LONDON, May 18. (Received May 19 ( at 8.47 a.m.) Most of the Unionist newspapers trace a certain sympathy in Mr Balfour’s and Mr Chamberlain’s views on the fiscal unity of the Empire, pointing to Mr Balfour’s statement that though such a union would be difficult he would regard its consummation with unfeigned pleasure, and his adding that a trifling duty on food imports might be part of a genral system. The Opposition newspapers insist that there is a divergence between Mr Balfour and Mr Chamberlain, and that the latter’s policy will precipitate Imperial disunion. The New York correspondent of ‘The Times’ (Mr Smalley) says that American newspapers applaud Mr Chamberlain’s genuine political sagacity. His policy is the starting point of a new epoch. The ‘Cape Times’ says that Mr Chamberlain has set up a new current in the stream of national feeling. It is the first definite avowal of a policy destined inevitably to be adopted.

‘The Times,’ commenting on the penalisation of Canada's commerce, condemns Germany^a astounding audacity in denying the British Empire’s right to manage its own domestic affairs.