At a banquet in Manchester on Wednesday, Mr. Chamber- lain
made a second speech which was not only wise and states- manlike in spirit, but drew a most fascinating picture of our Colonial Empire. He believed, he said, in getting new markets by developing savage countries, but we ought not to claim any monopoly. Though we ought to get our fair share, we were neither strong enough nor rich enough to take "all the territory which is at present undeveloped." If the Govern- ment had taken all the places they were abused for not taking, they would have broken down the Empire by over- strain. Mr. Chamberlain, in running through our vast and growing Colonial Empire, prophesied that before five years were over the Gold Coast and Lagos would be among the most valuable possessions we have. Dealing with China, he expressed himself strongly, we are glad to see, against that dog-in-the-manger policy which we have always denounced. He pointed out, too, that in spite of all the " howling," we have done very well in China,—a result due, we may add, to the fact that the Government kept their heads and did not plunge into any policy of panic. Mr. Chamberlain ended his speech by expressing his desire for co-operation in the Far East with Japan, Germany, and, above all, the United States. There was, however, no need to talk of formal alliances. Great Britain did not need allies. "We can stand alone, and if we enter on any alliance we shall give as much as we get."
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