IMPERIAL PREFERENCE. (Hansard, 17 October 1918)

§ Mr. PRINGLE
At Question Time there were a few questions in the name of the hon. Member for Chippenham (Mr. G. Terrell), the answers to which gave rise to a perfect fusillade of supplementary questions, and it was on account of the little satisfaction that was given by the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Hewins) that I intimated that I would raise the question on the Adjournment. The question referred to the policy of the Government in relation to Imperial Preference. The first was To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state whether India and Egypt were parties to the arrangement in regard to Colonial Preference, and what articles were to be the subject of preference. The second was To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can give any information as to the agreement arrived at with the self-governing Dominions and Colonies as to Colonial Preference. The right hon. Gentleman, in the first instance, referred to a former answer, and in reply to the first supplementary he 395 informed the hon. Member opposite that he was ignorant of the British Constitution. Subsequently there were a number of answers which I believe left the whole House in a state of absolute vagueness as to the policy and intentions of His Majesty's Government. It is extremely important that we should have this matter made as clear as possible at the earliest moment. We know that there is a likelihood in the early future of a General Election, and in these circumstances there is nothing more important than that we should have clearly defined the policy of the Government, so that the country may decide upon a definite policy at the election, and so that there may not in the future be the slightest doubt that whatever policy is adopted by the Government is policy which has the approval of the country. As I understand it, the right hon. Gentleman has told us that the Government have accepted the Resolution of the Imperial Conference, which is to the effect that in respect of duties at present existing and duties hereafter to be imposed there should be a preference within the Empire. Undoubtedly, if the policy of Preference is to be confined to existing duties on imported articles, it does not amount to much. It is a policy with a very big name which has extremely little substance. It makes it really a shop-window policy. The whole significance of the adoption of this policy of Imperial Preference by the Government therefore lies in the articles upon which hereafter duties are to be imposed.
I do not know that the Under-Secretary for the Colonies can give us any clear statement. No doubt he has had an opportunity between four o'clock and now of consultation, but it is possible that he may not make matters very clear. We have, however, certain precedents in regard to Imperial Preference. We know 396 that the great apostle of Imperial Preference was the late Mr. Chamberlain, and that the present Under-Secretary for the Colonies won considerable distinction as one of its main advocates. In these circumstances, we are happy to have him here to deal with the question this evening. We know that Mr. Chamberlain was quite frank in facing all the difficulties of the policy which he adopted. He treated the country with absolute candour, and one of the earliest statements which he made in the fiscal campaign was that if you were going to give a preference to the Colonies you must put a tax upon food. While I have not taken the trouble to look up the writings of the Under-Secretary for the Colonies or to consult the reports of his speeches, I have no doubt that it would be possible to find many statements in his speeches and writings bearing out the position which Mr. Chamberlain so frankly adopted. I am quite sure that when he is called upon to answer this evening he will not desert the opinions which he has professed in the past. Of course, these will be his individual opinions, and they will not bind the present War Cabinet, but, so far as he is personally concerned, there cannot be the slightest doubt that he holds the view—

Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER
Thirty-nine.

§ Mr. BOOTH
There are three behind the Chair.

Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER
I cannot see them. Forty Members not being present, the House was Adjourned at Three minutes after Seven o'clock, until Monday nest, pursuant to the Order of the House of the 13th February.