HC Deb 30 July 1903 vol 126 cc904-7
SIR M. HICKS BEACH (Bristol, W.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in the discussion of preferential tariffs at the Colonial Conference in 1902, the representatives of Australia, New Zealand, the Cape, and Natal expressed the opinion that the preferential treatment of British goods which they were prepared to recommend to their respective Parliaments might be given without any reciprocal concession of the same kind by the mother country, while the representative of Canada admitted that it would be most difficult for the mother country to impose new duties in order to make such concessions, and merely asked whether they could not be made on duties already existing in the British tariff if the preference already given by Canada were made more complete and effective.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN, Birmingham, W.)

So far as the discussions at the Conference are concerned the statement in the Question is correct, but the Resolutions ultimately passed went much further, and urged on His Majesty's Government the expediency of granting in the United Kingdom preferential treatment to the produce and manufactures of the colonies either by, exemption from or reduction of duties now or hereafter imposed. The Finance Minister of Canada, in introducing his Budget into the Dominion, has since stated, "If, after further consideration, they come to the conclusion that our request is not a reasonable one; if, owing to their adherence to certain views, they cannot grant us a preference, we shall be free to take our own course. Whether in such a case it would be wise in the interests of Canada to modify or change the preferential tariff would be a question to he considered But putting aside other considerations, if the British Government and people do not show any appreciation of the value of the preference, then so far as the British Government and people are concerned, they cannot complain if we see fit to modify or change that preferential tariff." In the Memorandum laid before the Conference by the Canadian Ministers, they stated that if they could be assured that the Imperial Government would accept the principle of preferential trade generally, and particularly grant to the food products of Canada in the United Kingdom exemption from duties now levied or herein after imposed they, the Canadian Ministers, would be prepared to go further into the subject and endeavour to give to the British manufacturer some increased advantage over his foreign competitors in the markets of Canada.

SIR M. HICKS BEACH

I wish to ask Question arising out of that Answer. I think the House will see that there is a very important difference between the statements made by the representatives of the colonies in the discussion at the Conference and both the Canadian Memorandum and the Resolution finally agreed to, and what I would ask my right hon. Friend is whether he does not think it would be almost necessary for the proper discussion of this matter that the public should be in possession of the report of the discussion on this subject at the Conference. My right hon. Friend has already stated to the House that he is unable to present that report, not because he himself objects, but because, I think, only one colony has objected to its publication. Will he not endeavour to remove that objection and give us the report?

MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN

I do not agree with the statement of my right hon friend that there is any substantial difference between what was published as to what took place at the Conference and what was understood to be private. My right hon. Friend, however, is entirely right in saying that no objection whatever has come from me in regard to the publication of everything that took place in our discussions. The objection came from the representatives of the colonies, and, in spite of my suggestion that the whole of the proceedings should be published, some of them declined to give assent to what, after all, was apparently a reasonable consideration. This was, that at the outset it had been stated that these discussions would be private unless subsequently it was desired to publish them, and that they had expressed themselves perhaps more freely and with less reserve than they would have done if they had known that everything was hereafter to be published. That is the present position, and I am bound in good faith—in fact, I have absolutely no alternative—not to publish what any of the colonial representatives desire to remain secret. If my right hon. Friend desires it, I have no objection to state his wish to the Prime Ministers of the colonies who were present, and ask them if they are now ready to withdraw their objection.