AN EMPIRE CONGRESS

Evening Star, Issue 12864, 13 July 1906, Page 6

AN EMPIRE CONGRESS

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.

THE PREFERENTIAL TRADE VOTE.

' ST. PETERSBURG, July 12. The Chambers supporting the Preferential Trade resolution at the Empire Chambers of Commerce Congress included Blackburn, Bristol, Burnley, Derby, Dublin, Dundee, Croydon, Halifax, Leith, Nottingham, Swansea, Sheffield, Madras, and Walsall, and those against the motion included Bamslev, Bradford. Manchester, Oldham, Sunderland, lork, Bengal, and Bom-bay. The neutrals included London. Binrririgham, Cardiff, Portsmouth, and Warrington. The Congress, by a large majority, adopted a resolution advocating the establishment oi an Advisory Imperial Council to consider Imperial interests, especially for promoting international trade.

lhe 'Chronicle' (Liberal) states that the decision arrived at by the Congress represents an advance in Mr Chamberlain's direction, but apparently Preference is only Protection under another name.

' The Times' (which has consistently supported Mr Chamberlain) states that the resolution is significant in view of the recent elections. It also says that apparently the Melbourne and Sydney delegates' neutralrtv was benevolent.

The 'Morning Post' (Opposition) savs it is clear that the business men of the Empire endorse Cbamberlaimsro.

DIVERSE VIEWS

LONDON, July 12. (Received July 13, at 7.26 a.m.) Mr Percy M'Arthur, in the course of his address, said that many Australians suspended judgment, as they were not quite certain what Preferential Trade meant. They were also reluctant to assent to any course that would be inimical and distasteful to the Motherland. The ' Standard' (Opposition) asserts that the notable resolution of the Congress is an opportune and signal demonstration, as it represents the voice of the Empire. The 'Daily News' (Government) says that by painting Freetraders as anti-colonist. Mr Chamberlain is doing his best to create coldness between the various parts of the Empire. —«- THE NEXT MEETING. POSSIBLY TN~AUSTRALIA. LONDON, July 12. The majority of the Congress voted to hold the next meeting in 1909 in Australia, but the final decision was referred to the associated Chambers of Canada and Great Britain. „ PRESENTATION TO MR CHAMBERLAIN. LONDON, July 12. The members of the Tariff which was constituted on December 18, 1903, to examine Mr Chamberlain's fiscal proposals, presented Mr Chamberlain with an address and a silver epergno on the occasion of bis seventieth birthday. Mr Chamberlain congratulated: the Commission on collecting the most valuable trade information which the Kingdom possessed. MR DEAKIN'S VIEW PREFERENTIAL SENTIMENT GROWING. MELBOURNE, July 15. (Received July 13, at 10.14 a.m.) Mr Deakin regards the Preferential Trade resolution at the Commerce Congress as the most important incident in the movement sine* Mr Chamberlain's great speech at Birmingham in 1903. Preferential Trade, he said, was steadily growing through all the vicissitudes which affect the different Administrations of the Mother Country and her dominions. Reciprocal concessions between South Africa, Australia, and Zealand were nearly ripe for handling and they would constitute a. distinct, advance of thi> movement. THE ADELAIDE CHAMBER. -ADELAIDE, July 13. In connection with the resolution of the Commerce Congress favoring Preferential Trade, no instructions were given to the Adelaide representatives. Thev therefore spok* and voted m their own behalf, and could not bind the Adelaide Chamber. [The Adelaide Chambers representatives apparently voted for the resolution.]