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 CIHM/ICMH 
 
 Microfiche 
 
 Series. 
 
 CIHM/ICMH 
 Collection de 
 microfiches. 
 
 Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions 
 
 Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques 
 
 1980 
 
Technical Notes / Notes techniques 
 
 The Institute has attempted to obtain the best 
 original copy available for filming. Physical 
 features of this copy which may alter any of the 
 images in the reproduction are checked below. 
 
 D 
 D 
 
 Coloured covers/ 
 Couvertures de couleur 
 
 Coloured maps/ 
 
 Cartes gdographiques en couleur 
 
 L'institut e microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire 
 qu'il lui a 6t6 possible de se procurer. Certains 
 difauts susceptibles de nuire d la quality de la 
 reproduction sont notds ci-dessous. 
 
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 Coloured pages/ 
 Pages de couleur 
 
 Coloured plates/ 
 Planches en couleur 
 
 The 
 pos 
 oft 
 film 
 
 The 
 con 
 or t 
 app 
 
 The 
 film 
 inst 
 
 □ 
 
 Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ 
 Pages ddcolordes, tachet6es ou piqudes 
 
 Tight binding (may cause shadows or 
 distortion along interior margin)/ 
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 de la distortion le long de la marge 
 intdrieure) 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 Show through/ 
 Transparence 
 
 Pages damaged/ 
 Pages endommagdes 
 
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 in 
 upp 
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 folli 
 
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 Additional comments/ 
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 Bibliographic Notes / Notes bibliographiques 
 
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 Only edition available/ 
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 Le titre de couverture manque 
 
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 Des planches manquent 
 
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 Pagination incorrect/ 
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 Des cartes gdographiques manquent 
 
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 Additional comments/ 
 Commentaires suppl6mentaires 
 
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 la 
 
 The images appearing here are the best quality 
 possible considering the condition and legibility 
 of the original copy and in keeping with the 
 filming contract specifications. 
 
 The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall 
 contain the symbol ^•►(meaning CONTINUED"), 
 or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever 
 applies. 
 
 Les images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le 
 plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et 
 de la nettetd de I'exemplaire film6, et en 
 conformity avec les conditions du contrat de 
 filmage. 
 
 Un des symboles suivants apparaTtra sur la der- 
 nidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: 
 le symbole -^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole 
 y signifie "FIN". 
 
 The original copy was borrowed from, and 
 filmed with, the kind consent of the following 
 institution: 
 
 Library of the Public 
 
 Archives of Camida 
 
 Maps or plates too large to be entirely included 
 in one exposure are filmed beginning in the 
 upper left hand corner, left to right and top to 
 bottom, as many frames as required. The 
 following diagrams illustrate the method: 
 
 L'exemplaire film6 fut reproduit grfice d la 
 gdndrositd de I'dtablissement prdteur 
 suivant : 
 
 La bibliothdque des Archives 
 
 publiques du Canada 
 
 Les cartes ou les planches trop grandes pour dtre 
 reproduites en un seul clich6 sont film6es d 
 partir de Tangle supdrieure gauche, de gauche d 
 droite et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre 
 d'images ndcessaire. Le diagramme suivant 
 illustre la mdthode : 
 
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 TIIK rOMMKnCTAT. IT.OEnATloM OF TIIK 
 EMl'lKK. 
 
 Tlio following iri a synopKis of the prize I'sinv wiiltoii by 
 >rr. .1. G. (^olmi^r, <".M.U., oil the Coimiiciriiil Keiii'mtion of 
 tlic Kmiiiro in cnniiectioii "itli 7'/((! >Si'af;.-Mh()iisniicl ^nii'iens 
 connii'tiiion on the sulijiTt. Th(! ef!<iiy wa.f iiul)li.she(l in fnll 
 in '///<• Siiiiist of May 'Jml. 
 
 Tlie sclicnic may l)i' iliviiled into fiinr parts : 
 
 1. 'I'lio granting of pri'forcntial treatment to ('ohmial 
 and Iiiili.in prodncte in the United Kinfrdom. 
 •-'. I'refi'.rentiul treatment of British i)rodiut8 in 
 the Colonies and India 3. 'I'lic additional revenue, 
 Ro derived to form a fund, if tlie Mother Conntry 
 and tlia ('(donies ami India af;ree, with a view to 
 improve and snpplement the defenees of the l'".m- 
 ]iire ontsidc! the United Kinndcnn. 4. The fiaina- 
 t ion of a Colonial ("iMineil to give the Colonies a 
 greater Mine in Imperial affairs, and lo provide for 
 the admiiiistrution of the fnnd. 
 
 1. It is suggested that in the United Kingdom small 
 speoilie duties should be jdaced on certain enumerated 
 artieles, about twimty in nnmlier, when imported from foreign 
 countries— similar imports from the Colonics and India to 
 remain duly free, as at present. That the ]iroposMls are 
 nioilerate in" their nature will be understood when it is stated 
 that the duties, with one or two eNccptiiais, are ei|uivalent to 
 an ./(/ iiilnirin duty of about :! per cent, on foreign imports of the 
 articles specilied." On f'TClBn wheat and Hour a revival of the 
 duties ill force, up to Isi;'.!. of about Is. jier iiuarttr, is rccom- 
 meni!ed. The imports in l>*'.>i of the enmneriited articles 
 from foreign countries were valued at e85,.");ill,7'.ll, and from 
 the Colonies and India at XU,'.t5>H,;l.-)0. The duties, it is 
 anticipate<l, would realise aliout X-2,'UO,imo. 
 
 The enumerated articles are live animals, inonts, 
 cheese, butter, wheat, Hour, hemp and other tilirec, ivory, 
 undressed leatlier, sugar, u'irefined and retined, woid, tallow, 
 -fi\\ ?k'nH, ti"b oil, l.i^wiiiid. mahogany, and nuts n"d kernels 
 for oil. It would have been easy io mention many other 
 articles produced in the Colonies on foreign imports of w hieh 
 diiiies might he imposed, such as india-ruliher. indigo, farina- 
 coons substances, (U'uamental feathers, lisb, fruits, gntta percha, 
 hides, pain, oil, rice, fnrs.skins, silver and tin ore, wine, andw<H)d. 
 But, in the judgment of the writer of the essay, Comnierial 
 Federation will have a greater chance of immediate adopt jii 
 and smcess it it is inaugurated on a moderate basis. 
 
 It is also proposed to reduce by one-half the existing 
 duties on imports from the Colonies and India of cocoa, 
 cotlee, ami tea, the duties on the furcign imports of those 
 articles to remain as at present This rearrangement of the 
 existing tarilT, with a roiluetmn ot 5 per cent, in the diitits on 
 tobacco from all countries, w iiil mean a. doi reuse in the 
 revenue to the extent of abmit .t'-VWIV)')"- I' will be seen, 
 therefore, that the scheme involves, ronphly S|K'nking, a net 
 increase in the revenue of the United Kingdom of about 
 £70il,U(Ml. 
 
 It is nrged that an increase in price is not likely to result 
 from til- olacing of duties on foreign imports of the 
 enuniei irtieles, at any rate to the extent of the proposed 
 
 duties. every case there woubl still be n considerable 
 
 importation of the different commodities from the Colonies 
 and India. As they would remain duty free, the supplies 
 coming from within "the Emjiire would dominate the market, 
 and, with the foreign competition, have a tendency to prevent 
 the increase in jirices wlieh perhaps might follow if duties 
 were placed upon such imi orts from all countries, 
 
 2. As the fiscal Bystems in the Colonics and India are so 
 varied, and the nature of their trade exchanges so ditferent, it 
 has appirently been found ditlieult to make any proposal for 
 giving preferential treatment of a uniform character to British 
 imports in those markets, in return for the concessions 
 suggested on the part of the United Kingdom. It is, therefore, 
 recnminemled in the essay that the Mother Country should 
 take the initiative in the matter, inform the Colonies and 
 India what advantages the United Kingdom is prepareil to 
 offer to the imports of the articles enumerated from within 
 the Kmiiire. and ask what concessions of a preferential 
 character they won'd be prepared to extcml to imports from 
 the United Kingdom over imports from foreign countries. 
 It is believed that correspondence of this nature would pave 
 the way for an Imperial conference, at which the details of 
 the proposals conid be discussed, and definite arrangements 
 agreed upon, by wliitdi in every part of the Kmpire there 
 would be preferential treatment, on a moderate scale, for 
 Inter-Iinjierial trade. The s( heme, which is essentially in the 
 nature of a "family nrrangeinciit " between the Colonies 
 and I'ossessions and the Mother Country, would naturally be 
 subject to alteration from time to time, as rei|uircrl, in the 
 interests of all the parties concerned. 
 
 'X Assuming that the (,'olonies were prepared to grant 
 preferential treatment to British trade (upon which no doubt 
 
 appears to exist, in view of the resolutions of the Ottawa 
 Conference), assuming also that India was ready to follow 
 their examiile, and that they re-arranged their tariffs in 
 favour of British trade in a manner satisfactory to the 
 United Kingdom; and that the formation of a fnnd for 
 defence purposes was agreed upon as part of the scheme, 
 it is fair to suppose that the Colonies and India would bo 
 able to contribute, as partly or entirely the outcome of their 
 preferential treatment of British imports, according to their 
 local circumstances, a sum e(|U«l in the aggregate to the net 
 amount of additional revenue (tiOO.ilOt)) to bo raised in 
 the United Kingdom. In one of the appendices of the 
 ess IV a suggestion for the apportionment of the i:7i)0,()()0 
 among till' Colonies and India is olTeied. This would provide 
 a fund of nearly 4:i,,")(HI,000 per annum, the joint contribution 
 of the Colonies and India and the United Kingdom, which 
 it is suggest.'d cmild be used to supplement and improve the 
 existing defences, incduding graving docks and coaling stations, 
 in the outlying parts of the Kmpire. Among other things the 
 maititenance of guard-ships in the leading ports of the Kmpire 
 is projioscd. These vessels would he useful not only for 
 harbour defence, but in connection with the training of 
 naval militia, which it is believed could readily be formed in 
 the leading maritimo ports of the Kmpire. This force would 
 not only he valuable locally, but would be available for 
 drafting on llor .Majesty's s"hips that might be operating in 
 the neighbourhood of the Colonies in time of war. 
 
 I. In order to give the Colonies a larger voice in the 
 affairs of the Kmpire than they now have, and to enable them 
 to participate in the administmtion of the proposed fund fur 
 defence, the formation of a Colonial Council is suggested. 
 It would consist of the Secretaries of State for the Colonies 
 Foreign Affairs, India, and War, the First Lord of thu 
 Admiralty, and the Chancellor of the Kxchcquer, the Colonial 
 Secretary being I'resident. T'lie Iligli ("ommissioner for 
 Canada and the Agcnts-tieneral of tha self-governing Colonies 
 — or such other persons as the Colonies might appoint 
 would l)B members of the Council. It would be, as its 
 name iinjilies. a Council in whith the (^)l(mies would have 
 II voir.- iliii. ii;b tlieir repieseiiiniiv es in regard to :'.iiy matters 
 arising out of the jirefc iviitial irado arrangements, and upon 
 all othi?r subjects in whiidi the ('(dmiies they represented 
 had the right to consult, or to be consulted by, the Imperial 
 Government. 
 
 The only serious (di'tacle of an international character 
 in the way of carrying out the scheme is contained in the 
 resfridivc clauses of the conniierciiil treaties with Belgiutn 
 and (lermany, «hich oblige the Colonies to admit imports 
 from those countries on the same terms as those from the 
 United Kingilom. By the action of the most-favoured-nation 
 elaiiwB in otber treaties this uMigation is made more or less 
 general. As British imports from Uelginm and (iermany are 
 greater than British exports to those countries, and as, evon 
 if the objectionable clauses were cancelled, the Colonies could 
 still be made amenable to the general most-favoured-nation 
 clause, which forms part of the treaties, it is suggested that if 
 the proposition were made to the countries in (piestion they 
 woulii prefer the moditication of the treaties rather than their 
 abrogation. The treaties are terminable in any case on twelrc 
 months' notice. 
 
 Uetaliatitai on the part of foreign countries is not antici- 
 pated as the result of the adoption of the scheme, becau.se their 
 import duties are now as high, generally s| caking, as they cnii 
 be made, and any increiu«e would react on the countries 
 themselves. Besides, with the Imperial (^iiEtoms Union in 
 existence, u policy of retaliation would hardly be lightly 
 undertaken. 
 
 The following are some of the advantages which it is 
 claimed would be derived by the Mother Country on the one 
 linnd, and the Colonies and pof'bes^ions on the other, from the 
 adoption of a .scheme of commercial federation. It would 
 bring the Mother ('ouiitry into closer union with the Colonies. 
 By giving preferential treatment, on a moderate scale, to 
 Jiritish trade within the limits of the ICmpire, the bond of 
 unity would ho material ns well as sentimental, By such 
 preference the doctrines of Free Trade that prevail in the 
 United Kingdom would not be seriously endangered, and freer 
 trade than at present would be made possible within the 
 Kmpire. On the other hand, the British manufacturer would 
 retain the control of the rapidly increasing Colonial markets. 
 There would be a unity for the defence of the oiiilying parts 
 of the Empire, and a Colonial Council for mntnal consultation 
 on matters of general interest. Greater attention than ever 
 wouhi 1)6 attracted to the Colonic. Emigration would flow 
 in larger numbers to their shores and increase the demand 
 tor British goods. The investment of capital in the Colonies 
 would be encouraged, and their powers of production be so 
 increased that the United Kingdom would year by year depend 
 less upon foreign sources for her food supplies. 
 
 Attached to the essay are several statistical appendices, 
 illustrating the commercial affairs of the Kmpire, and showing 
 that, relatively speaking, the trade of the United Kingdom 
 with the Colonies has been increniiing in a greater ratio than 
 the tnide with the other parts of the world,