RESIGNATION OF MR CHAMBERLAIN

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8290, 19 September 1903, Page 1

RESIGNATION OF MR CHAMBERLAIN

[By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright..]

Per- Press Association. Received September .18, at 9.58 p.m. London September 18. It is officially announced that the King has accepted the resignations of Mr .Chamberlain, . Mr Ritchie.," and Lord.George Hamilton.

Mr Chamberlain, in a letter to Mr. Balfour on the 9th, in anticipation of -Monday's Cabinet meeting, said: ."I have most :carefully, considered, the -situationt as it affects the Government and. the great question, of fiscal reform. When you, in replying to a deputation in reference to the corn tax, and I, at -Birmingham., called attention to the., change in the commercial position during the last half century, and suggested an in,, quiry into the subject, I do not think either of us intended to provoke a purely party controversy. .We raised, not tor the first time, a question of the greatest national and Imperial importance, ia tile hope that it would be by friends and. opponents, and an inquiry instituted which might lead to conclusions accepted by a majority of the.people and represented accordingly by the results of .the next general elections. Whether this .view was, reasonable or not, it certainly was not shared by the Liberal leaders, who scouted the. idea that the system generally accepted in 1846 could possibly require modification in 1903, "the whole party, organisation being directed against any attempt to alter or .even inquire into thfe foundation of fiscal policy. The advocates of reconsideration meanwhile have to. grant them an- advantage owing to the; admitted differences of opinion, the Unionist party organisations being paralysed,. ,and pur opponents in full possession of the field. They placed in the forefront of their arguments their objections tc the taxation of food,. even any readjustment im the existing taxation towards the mutual advantage of ourselves and the colonies, and the Empire's closer union. The "unscrupulous use is made of the old cry of a dear loaf, ■ and in the absence of a full public discussion a serious prejudice is created. The people are generally alive to the danger of unrestricted competition on the part.of foreigners, who close their markets against us, while they find in ours an outlet for their surplus productions. Still they do not appreciate the importance of the colonial markets to our trade, nor the danger of losing them unless we meet in some- way their natural patriotic desire for preference. The-result for the present, at any rate, is that preference to the colonies, involving any new duty, however small, on articles of food, even if accompanied by a reduction of taxation on other. articles of food of equally universal consumption, is not acceptable to the majority of the 'constituencies. However regrettable or mistaken this decision may be, no Government of a democratic country can ignore it. Therefore, I feel that as the immesdiate practicable policy of preference cannot 'be pressed hopefully at present, although there is a very strong feeling in favor of the other branch of the policy—that of giving fuller discretion to the Government to.negotiate with foreigners for a freer exchange, enabling us to retaliate in the absence of concessions as a just claim to greater reciprocity —and as I 'believe you share with me these views, it seems to me to be absolutely justified in adopting them as the policy of your Government, although they involve some changes in its constitution. As Secretary of State for the Colonies, I have been in a special sense the representative of the policy of closer union. » I be<lieve it may be possible to-day but may be impossible to-morrow to make arrangements for such a union. I have had an unexampled opportunity of watching the trend of events and appreciating our kinsmen beyond the seas. I stand in a different position to my colleagues, and I would be justly blameable if I remained in office and accepted the exclusion of so important a part of my programme. I think, with absolute loyalty to the Government and its gc-neral policy, and with no fear of embarrassingit, I can best promote the cause outside. I cannot but hope that in an independentposition my arguments will meet with less prejudice! than as a party leader. Accordingly, I suggest that you limit the Government's present policy to the assertion of our freedom in connection with all commercial relations with foreigners, and agree to my resigning. I will devote myself to explaining and popularising Imperial union, for experience lias convinced me that.it is essential for our future welfare and prosperity."' Received September 19, at 0.20 a.m. London, September 18. Mr Balfour replied on/t-he loth:—"1 agree with you that the time has come for a"change in the fiscal canons whereby we bound ourselves in our dealings to other Governments, but it seems paradoxical that you should leave the' Cabinet at the moment. others are leaving through disagreeing on this very point-. Yet- I reluctantly admit that- there is some force in the arguments based on your special personal relations to preference. You have done more than any man living or dead to bring home to the citizens of the Empire the consciousness of the Imperial obligation and interdependence of the fragments wherein the Empire is divided. I believe you are rightin holding that in-tea-dependence should be expressed By commercial equality, with political and military relations. I believe with you that closer fiscal union between the Motherland and -colonics will be good for both, and based on-fitting terms of advantages will increase as the colonies grow in wealth- and population. If ever there were any differences between us they merely related to the practicability of the proposal requiring a colonial limitation in the all-round development of protection and the Motherland's part in its establishment. In reference to important colonial products I say nothing about the limitation, but as regards preference, involving taxation, however light, upon foodstuffs, I am convinced, with you, that opinions are not yet ripe. Reasons are discoverable in past battles and recent political misrepresentations. I am deeply concerned at your inability, under very special circumstances, to remain a Minister, but I do not venture to raise objection, and if you think you can best serve tho interests of Imperial unity by freely pressing your views on preference in an independent position, I wall not criticise your determination. The loss to the Government will be great indeed, but the gain to the cause you have at heart may be greater still. If so what can Ido but acquiesce?" Received September 19, .at 0.55 a.m. London, September 18.

The newspapers predicted the resignations, specially Mr Chamberlain's, -which startled London and the provinces, although the Birminghamites for some time had been convinced that he would doff his coat for the biggest fight of the generation. The Morning Post says it is the mast original resignation in: historical memory, as Mr Chamberlain, and Mr BaJfoui* remain the best of' friends, and there is not even a political or party breach. The resignation will win the hearts of the best of his countrymen and admirers for a statesman who made a daring risk to himself and prospects on: his convictions. Received 'September 19, at 1 a.m. London, September 18. Mr Austen Chamberlain, does not intend to resign. , . The Times says that while Mr Balfour is baoked by the Duke of Devonshire and the rest, of the Ministry; except the Cobdenites and seceders, and has Mr Chamberlain's loyal independent support, the reconstruction <jf the- Cabinet will not involve a serious difficulty. It. adds that the correspondence reflects the highest credit on bo|&. Mr Chamberlain by his retirement may para- • doxically strengthen • the Government's policy and position in some respects. The Daily Chronicle says Mr jGbainberlairo, in proposing a particular line to the, Cabinet, actually adopted and won a conspicuous victory in the: Cabinet, though he suffered a startling- reverse in the country.. The Cabinet has not "rejected but merely postponed the preference-proposals. ■. . }Tha while not) the adoption by the country of Mr Chamberlain's proposals, confesses that his inevitable, retirement. 3s an administrative!' misfortune, and declares that his ungrudging admission regarding-the constituencies is creditable to his sense of honorjmd political discernment, thou eh he does "not believe 'the. drift 'of opinion is permanent. : .' \ 1