IMPERIAL POLITICS

Waikato Argus, Volume XV, Issue 6045, 19 September 1903, Page 3

IMPERIAL POLITICS

CABLEGRAMS

[rMTKH l'Kl'Sa ASSOCIATION I [nv H.KCTUIO TM.KtIIIAPII-C.)PYBIO.IT]

THUEE MINISTERS RESIGN

London', September IS. It is ollicitlly announced that the King ht:s accepted the resignations of Mr J. Chamberlain, Secretary of Mute tor the Colonies. Mr Ritchie, Chancellor of the Exchequer. Mr Lord George Hamilton, Secretary of State for Indiu.

Mr Chamberlain, in a letter to Mr Balfour dated September Dth, in anticipation of Monday's Cabinet meeting, said :—" I have most carefully considered the question 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 1 at Birmingham, called attention to the changes in the commercial position during the last half century, and suggested an inquiry into the subject, I don't 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 in the hope that it would be impartially discussed by friends and opponents and an inquiry initiated which would lead to conclusions acceptable to the majority of the people and represented accordingly by results at the nest general election.' Whether that view was reasonable or not, it was certainly not shared by the Liberal leaders, who scouted the idea that a system generally accepted in 1846 could possibly require any modification in 1903, the wholo party organisation beiug directed against an attempt to alter, or even enquire into, the foundation of the fiscal policy. The advocates of reconsideration meanwhile have to grant them the advantage, owing to admitted differences of opinion, the Unionist party's organisations being paralysed, and our opponents being iu full possession of the field. They have placed in the forefront of their argumeuts their objections to taxation on food, and even any readjustment of existing taxation towards the mutual advantage of ourselves and the colonies, and the Empire's closer union. An unscrupulous use has been made of the old cry of a dear loaf, and in the absence of full public discussion, serious prejudice has been created. The Deople 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. While they do not appreciate the importance of colonial markets to our trade nor the danger of losing them, unless we meet in someway their natural patriotic desire for preference, the result, for the preseut at any rate, is that preference to the colonies, involving any new duty, however small, on articles of food, e;en if accompanied by a reduction of taxation ou other articles of food of equally universal consumption, is Dot acceptable to the majority of the constituencies. However regrettable or mistaken this decision, no Government of a democratic country can ignore it. Therefore I feel that as an immediate practical policy of preference ennnot be pressed hopefully at present, although there is a very strong feeling in favour of the other branch of tho policy—that of giving fuller discretion to the Government to negotiate with foreigners for freer exchange, enabling it to retaliate in the ahsenco of the concession of its just claims to greater reciprocity, und as I believe you share with me these views, it seems to mo you will be absolutely justified in adopting them as the policy of your Government, although they involve some cbauges in its constitution. As Secretary of StHte for the Colonies. I have been iu a special sense the representative of the policy of closer union. I believe it is possible to-day, but it may be impossible to-morrow, to make arrangements for such union. I bavo had unexampled opportunities of watching tho trend of events and appreciating tho feeling of our kinsmen beyond the sea. I stand in a different position to my colleagues and I would be justly blameable if I remained in office und accop. J the exclusion of so important a part of uy programme. I think with absolute loyalty to the Government and its general policy, and with no fear of embarrassing it, I can best promote the cause outside. I cannot but hope that in an independent position the arrangement will bo met with less prejudice than from a party leader. Accordingly, I suggest that you should limit the Government's present policy to the assertion of our freedom in connection with all commercial relations with foreigners and a"ree to my resigning. I will devote myself to explaining and popularising Imperial union. Experience has convinced ine that it is essential to our future welfare and prosperity. Mr Balfour replied on the lGth : 1 agree with you that the time has come for a change of the fiscal ehiions. ■whereby wo havo bound ourselves in our dealings with other Governments. It seems paradoxical that you should leave the Cabinet at the moment that others are leaving through disagreeing with you on this point, yet I reluctantly admit that there is some force in tho argument based on your special personal relations to preference. You have done more than any other mini, living or dead, to bring home to the citizens of the Empire a consciousness of their Imperial obligation and the interdependence of the fragments wbereinto the Empireis divided. 1 believe you are tight in holding that this interdependence nhou'd be expiessed by commercial, equally with political and military relations. I believe with you that closer fiscal union between the Motherland and the colonies would be good for both, and if based on fittir," 1 terms the advantages will increase as the colonies grow in wealth and population. If ever there was any differences between us they merely related to tho practicability of a proposal requiring a colonial limitation iu the all-round development of protection, and on the Motherland's part in tha establishment of preference on important colonial products. I say nothing about the limitation, but with regard to a preference involving taxation, however light, upon foodstuffs, I am convinced with you that opinion is not yet ripe. The reasons are discoverable in past battles and political misrepresentations. 1 am deeply concerned at your inability under very special circumstances to remain a Minister. Ido not venture on any objection, and if you thiol;

CABLEGRAMS.

[pin UMITKO vki--- association] 1 11 V KI.I'ONUC! TKI.ICK.M'II- C.iPYIiIOUT. you can best sorve tho interests of Imperial unity hy freely pressing your views on pieferoncn in an indoponilent position. 1 will not criticise your determination. >hu loss to the Government will be great indeed, but the gain to the cause you have at heart may begreater still. If so, what can I do but acquiesce ': London, September 18. The Daily Telegraph states that it is the impredion in official circles that Mr Austen Chamberlain will mcceed Mr Rilcbio, that Mr Brodriok will succeed Lord George Hamilton, ami Mr Arnold [-'orster Mr Brodriok. Lord Miluer is mentioned as it possible successor to Mr Chamberlain. The Telegraph adds that the correspondence dees not contain a singlr note of self-seeking or personal ambition.

The Daily News says Mr Chamberlain has met Lis Waterloo, and adds that nn appeal to the country cannot be delayed.