On Thursday Mr. Asquith wound up the debate for the
Government in a speech of great vigour. It was, he declared, impossible to establish a system of Preference between the various 'parts of the Empire without inequality and embit- terment—a view in which we most heartily concur.' Canada was the best judge of her own interests. Mr. Asquith ended by declaring that we were celebrating the obsequies of what used to be- called Imperial Preference. Mr. Balfour, in reply, rebuked Mr. Asquith for applying the word " imposture " to Imperial Preference ; that "imposture," he declared, had received the endorsement of every one of the "Colonial Prime Ministers; "that woni was not -used towards the Colonial Prime Ministers who came across the sea to urge this 'imposture' upon you." After Mr. Hamar Greenwood, a Canadian, had repudiated the notion that the reci- procity arrangement would lead to annexation—" Even in my short- life I have seen the antagonism- to " annexation to the United States growing stronger and stronger"—and Sir John Simon had re-stated the Free Trade argument, the division was taken, and the amendment defeated by a majority of 102 (324—M2).
Previous page
