THE INDIAN COTTON-DUTIES.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] Si,—This subject of Indian Cotton-duties is referred to, I see, in the most interesting letter on the late Sir John Strachey from Sir Charles Elliott in the Spectator of December 28th, 1907. He contends that India is Protectionist, and that if she had her way Lancashire cotton piece-goods would be taxed on entry for the benefit of local production. Just so; but while India is our dependency she will continue to be governed by our traditional policy of Free-trade. During Mr. Churchill's contest in this city I ventured to warn Lancashire that if the principles of the Tariff Reform League were adopted, nothing could prevent the Bombay cotton industry from being pro- tected at the expense of our own staple trade. It would be the same in Egypt. I think I must decline to notice further a correspondent of yours who on this question signs himself " Free-Trader " in a letter in the same issue, which is chock full of Protectionist views. May I add that a statement made before the Indian Factory Commission now sitting in Calcutta, that any legal restriction which may be imposed "would be known to be due to the intervention of Lancashire millowners," is entirely without foundation ? When asked to join the Lancashire operatives in their agitation on this point, the employers here promptly declined to have anything whatever to do with the movement. —I am, Sir, &c.,
WILLIAM TATTERSALL.
35 and 36 Examiner Buildings, Manchester.
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