At last we know in general, if not in particular,
the views of the Government about Imperial Preference. On Tuesday at the Economic Conference Mr. Bruce, the Prime Minister of Australia, made a Protectionist speech about Empire trade, which he would have delivered at the opening session of the Conference had he been present. Later on the same day Sir Philip Lloyd-Greame, President of the Board of Trade, laid before the Con- ference proposals which are to be the basis of discussion. We may say at once that we have read these proposals with relief and even with satisfaction. The general idea is to knock off duties, not to impose them. It is not sug- gested that preferences shall be given to the Dominions by means of enormously increasing the tariffs on foreign imports into this country and giving the Dominions a preference only by comparison. The plan is to leave the tariffs on most foreign imports as they are and to remove altogether tariffs on the corresponding commodities from the Dominions. Thus preference is given by a closer approach to Free Trade.
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