After Lord Crewe had spoken from the Liberal benches, and
Lord Avebury had made a capital Free-trade speech full of useful figures, Lord Lansdowne dealt in a somewhat vague and hesitating way with the problem. His chief point was that it was not only likely that Germany would penalise Canada for giving us preferential duties, but might even ponalise the Mother-country if other Colonies followed the example of Canada in conferring on us preferential duties. This announcement has created some sensation, but it looks far more formidable than it really is. Even if Germany re- fuses us the " most-favoured-nation" treatment, she will deprive us of very little advantage. In truth, Germany puts on to foreign goods as much taxation as she can without exclusion, which would by no means suit her Treasury, and therefore this talk of withdrawing the "most-favoured-nation" treatment is to a great extent "bounce." If the threat were carried out, it would be the German Treasury and the German trader and consumer who would chiefly suffer. Lord Lansdowne ended his speech by a defence of free inquiry into the matter, which, he felt sure, might be conducted in a calm and judicial spirit. Lord Lansdowne is clearly a very sanguine man.
Previous page
