HC Deb 26 January 1891 vol 349 cc1027-8
MR. OCTAVIUS V. MORGAN (Battersea)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether Her Majesty's Government have formed an opinion as to the desirability of repeating at an early date their invitation to the self-governing Colonies to send representatives to a Conference with Her Majesty's Ministers, similar to that so successfully held in 1887, with a view to considering, among other matters of importance, a common fiscal arrangement, in the interest of the trade of the Empire, which will also provide the funds necessary for Imperial, as distinct from local defence; a proposal made in 1887 by the representatives of the Cape of Good Hope, and generally approved by the Conference?

MR. HOWARD VINCENT

I beg also to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if his attention has been directed to the recent speeches of Sir Charles Tupper, High Commissioner for Canada, and of Sir Gordon Sprigg, late Premier of Cape Colony, advocating the thorough examination of the possibility of establishing a commercial union within the Empire; and whether Her Majesty's Government will either recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission upon the subject, or will invite the Colonies to consider with the Mother Country the practicability of establishing a Customs Union, which shall make the Empire independent of Foreign nations, producing everything it wants, consuming everything it produces?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. H. SMITH, Strand, Westminster)

I am sure it will be seen that the questions involve considerations of high policy of very great importance; therefore it would be indiscreet and improper for me to give answers to questions of this character without the gravest consideration. It would be also difficult within the compass of an ordinary answer to a question to place the matter at all fairly before the House. I can only assure the House that our relations with the Governments of the Colonies are of a friendly and confidential character, and all questions affecting the interests of the Colonies and the Empire at large are receiving, and will continue to receive, the very serious consideration of Her Majesty's Government.