A.—s

356

Mr. H. E. Kearley, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade. Mr. H. Llewellyn Smith, C.8., Permanent Secretary to the Board of Trade. Mr. A. Wilson Fox, C.8., Comptroller-General of the Commercial, Statistical, and Labour Departments of the Board of Trade. Mr. G. J. Stanley, C.M.G., of the Board of Trade.

CHAIRMAN : I think when we broke off at our last meeting, Mr. Lloyd George was going to address the Conference. Dr. JAMESON : Before Mr. Lloyd George says what I presume will be the final word on the subject of Preferential Irade, might 1 be permitted still to say a few words. 1 feel bound, as 1 sard the other day, to do my utmost on this subject, because of what the Cape embodied in the second Resolution which is brought forward, which, as I explained the other day, of course is no possible threat, but merely a warning. I dare say the members of the Conference have seen in the papers telegrams from South Africa during the last few days showing that while we were discussing this question in this room, the most able statesman we have in South Africa at present was also speaking at that hour in South Africa on this subject and emphasising very strongly what I have tried to put here, namely, that reciprocity was an absolute necessity if the existing preference in South Africa, at all events, was likely to be continued. Feeling that, my Lord, 1 feel that I must make a very last effort in order not to get really a definite answer, which, after Mr. Asquith's speech of course we know we cannot get; but if I could even get an expression, not of opinion, but an expression from the Imperial Government that they would be willing to consider us in these difficulties—if I could get that, I feel that possibly I may have done something. lam looking forward from Mr. Lloyd George, perhaps, to getting a somewhat more sympathetic answer than from the able, clear, and decisive refusal which we have had from the Chancellor of the Exchequer. When we were asked in the Colonies by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to frame resolutions that we wanted to bring before the Conference I sat down to frame resolutions on this question of preference, and I thought of several; in fact there were four lines on which I formed resolutions; one a very strong one, and so on, getting down to the smallest. 1 thought perhaps it would be much better merely to send in general resolutions : first, the confirmation of the Resolutions of 1002; and, secondly, the slight warning on the want of reciprocity, and until I heard the discussion here to see what practically we might get, however small, so as not to ask for something too small if we were going to get something bigger. Therefore it is that I would like now, having heard the full discussion on this subjevt, to move a further resolution which I now read : " That while affirming the Resolution of 1902 " this Conference is of opinion that as the British Government through the " South African Customs Union, which comprises the Basutoland and " Bechuanaland Protectorates, do at present allow a preference against " foreign countries to the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia,, New Zealand, "and all other British possessions granting such reciprocity, His Majesty's " Government should now take into consideration the possibility of granting " a like preference to all portions of the Empire on the present dutiable " articles in the British tariff."

Elevenil' Day. 8 May 1907.

Preferential Trade.