Mr. Joseph Chamberlain's " Tariff Reform " frankly required taxes
on foreign food and raw materials, but even Mr. Neville Chamberlain admits, if sadly, that such taxes are just as impossible to-day as they were found to be in 1906—and perhaps more so. In the world as it is we are not by any means opposed to Imperial Prefer- ences, for they at least mean the reduction of existing duties and are thus an approximation to Free Trade. It seems that the Dominions are as much set as ever on maintaining their tariffs against Great Britain, though Mr. Amery and Lord Beaverbrook cherish a bland un- warrantable hope that they will give way. The Geneva Economic Conference was surely right in saying that the great need of the world is the removal of tariff barriers. The Empire is capable of a huge trade develop- ment, but it need not be brought about by the negative means of hostile tariffs against those who stand outside the family. * * * *
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