Mr. W. Graham's Defence of Abolition: Tariff Not to be Used as Weapon for Retaliation London, May 14.
In the debate in the House of Commons to-day on the Estimates for the Board of Trade, Conserva:- ive members deplored the intention of the Government to allow the safeguards in duties to lapsi pointing to the benefits which ta industries concerned had derived from the duties and the effect which their removal would have in injereasing unemployment. Reference was particularly made to the lace industry of Nottingham, merce. There had been new tariff proposals in the United States and unrest in In had a very large external row trying, under very high tariff, to restrict imports into the country and to encourage exports to improve "her position. In Canade, however, there was more hopefai outlook and he acknowledged, with gratitude, the concessions which Canada had given to the mother country in the new Canadian tari, less through Reuter, Mr. W. Graham, president of the Board of Trade, replying, said that eight safeguarding duties had been imposed but those affected only two per cent. of the imports into this country and less than one per cent, of exports in the field of articles wholly or mainly manufactured. During the time the duties had been in force figures showed exports had diminished, and that was one of the characteristics of many safeguarded industries. Whatever hapened in home markets export trade seemed to suffer. He could not be-Vieve the Conservative contention that there had been an advance of 162 per cent. in the Home demand for different classes of lace, Beyond all guess, there was a great majority at the last election for free-trade principles. The Government took the proper course and, he added, in his view, the sound ¢conomic course in deciding they would allow these duties to lapse or, at all events, give no promise to eontinue them. Free trade, in his Judgment, was not a negative prin. ciple but 'a great positive force and support. It had been suggested that France, by possession of the power of retaliation, had been able to get consideration which would not have been open to us. The underlying suggestion of the speeches of the Conservative mem: bers was that we should make tariff a weapon. In his opinion, that would be the worst weapon this country could adopt. It would be disastrous to the great leading industries on which this country depended. ing the trade position, Mr. that since the autumn the country had been exposed to a series of events which had had a"profoundly adverse influence on our industry and com-
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