IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 96, 18 December 1912, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

XO FOUNDATION

''By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) < United Press Association.) London, December 17. .Replying to a question, Sir. As-

quith said that lie was not awaie oi any grounds tor the statement that lie would resign it the women s fia ichiso were granted.

TARIFF REFORM

London, December 17

. Mr. Austen Chamberlain, speaking at Carlisle, said that any suggestion of the postponement of tariff reform would split the Unionist Party from top to bottom, and shake confidence in their honesty and good faith. Mr. Bonar Law, speaking at Ash-ton-nnder-Lyne, said that the greatest problem with which salesmen were faced was how to obtain a fairer method of distributing industrial wealth. He believed that the remedy lay in co-operation, assisted by a fait fiscal system. If the Unionists were entrusted with power they did not intend to impose food taxes without lint convening a colonial conference to consider the whole question of preferential trade. The question of food duties would only arise after the deliber-

ations of the conference. That nas why he objected to submit the proposals to a referendum. Jn dealing with food duties, an essential condition would be that the burdens of the poorer classes should not be increased. The ideal policy was free

trade within the Empire. It was impossible to get it noAV with the colonies, though a system of preference Avould tend to ultimately end in that direction. They could have free trade Avith India to-morroAv. India feared not the competition of Britain, but that of Japan. The Avhole experience of the civilised Avorld aaus hostile to the British fiscal system. Our colonies had abandoned it, and no serious politicians in any country proposed to return to it. r !lie Unionists did not intend to initiate a protective policy to foster unnatural industries, but would impose duties loAver than any in any other industrial country, not to encourage the building up of monopolies but merely to give their own Avorkmen preference in their oAvn markets. He promised clearly to define the proposed duties before the general election, and hoped that it would be unnecessary to impose more than a duty on wheat. If, after a conference with the colonies, diities were regarded as tmencessary, they avouM never be imposed.

(Received 8.0 a.in.) London, December 17

‘Tlio Times’ says that the Unionist leaders must not attempt to shift t/«o onus of food taxation. If it was not desirable as a purely domestic reform, then it was not desirable at oil. The ‘Chronicle’ says that Mr. Bonus' Law’s suggestion is a palpable attempt to shift the odium of food taxes from the sholuders of the Unionists to the Dominions.

(Received 8.20 a.m.) London, December 17

The ‘Manchester Guardian’ says that Mr. Bonar Law’s offer to Lancashire to refer the British food taxo« to tlio judgment of a body of strong Overseas Protectionists is hollow mockery.

The ‘Pall Mall Gazette’ says that the speech means a reversal of the hanged, barred and bolted door policy of the Dominions, who will bo treated ns members of the Imperial family. The ‘Star’ says Mr. Bonar Law is unwilling to allow the British to decide their food taxes, and the Colonies alone are to settle Britain’s fate.