SIR HARRY RAWSON'S DESPATCH.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVII, Issue 142, 19 June 1903, Page 2

SIR HARRY RAWSON'S DESPATCH.

Press Association Ele;tric Telegraph. Copyright.

London, June 17.

Beplying in the House of Commons to a question by Mr H. Mansfield, Liberal member for Spalding, regarding the reference by Sir Harry Rawson, Governor of New South Wales, to the policy of the Government in that State, the Prime Minister, Mr Bal* four, said that the Colonial Office had sent no telegram, but Lord Salisbury, who was then Premier, sent a despatch in 1897, denouncing the Berlin and German treaties, and instructing the British Ambassador to declare that this step was intended to remove the barrier against the British Empire's internal fiscal arrangement, as inconsistent with the close ties [of commercial intercourse which might be consolidated between the Motherland and the colonies. Mr Balfour said that possibly Sir Harry Rawson bad that in view.. , Replying further, Mr Balfour said there was no reason to ask Sir Harry Rawson to what declaration he referred.

[Sir Harry Rawson's despatch, which was sent at the request of the Premier of New South Wales, was a9 follows:— "My Government, recognising that preferential trade will be directly advantageous to Australia by securing her a market for her natural products, and believing that this policy is in the highest degree conducive to the welfare and solidarity of the Empire, and the union of the British-speaking people, strongly support your proposal to investigate the practicability of such preference ; also realising that what is Canada's tnrn to-day may be Australia's tomorrow, they express great satisfaction at the declaration of the British Government that every selfgoverning colony shall be secured in the free exercise of its right to enter iato closer trade relations with the Mother Country."]