At the meeting of the Imperial Conference on Tuesday, after
some introductory remarks from Lord Elgin, Sir Wilfrid
Laurier raised the question of Preference, and stated that Canada was content to adhere to the resolutions of 1902. The rest of the sitting was occupied by a long speech from Mr. Deakin, who moved the Commonwealth resolutions. In these the first three paragraphs of the 1902 resolution are retained, but the remainder are replaced by two resolutions declaring it to be desirable that the preferential treatment accorded by the Colonies to the United Kingdom should also be granted to the other Colonies, and that the United Kingdom should grant preferential treatment to the Colonies. The result of this policy would, he believed, be to build up the dominions beyond the seas, for an advantage only slightly profitable to the individual unit might be an immense advantage to the group of units. Greater co-operation was necessary for the Empire's continued existence. Mr. Deakin continued his speech at Wednesday's meeting, and advocated the appointment of a Committee of experts to review the trade of the Empire as a whole. He asked for no sacrifice, but the Commonwealth could not abolish its Customs Tariff, and Preference would assist towards the building up of the Empire economically, industrially, and productively. Sir J. Ward said that Prefer- ence, which was not to be confounded with Protection, ought to be, taken out of the arena of party politics. Dr. Jameson endorsed every word of Mr. Deakin's speech, while Mr. Moor, who declared himself to be neither Free-trader nor Protec- tionist, advocated a discriminating scientific tariff, and asked why should not the British Government grant relief to the Colonies by reducing taxation on tobacco.
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