oHAP. VI] TRADE RELATIONS AND CURRENCY 1169 
of the States of the Zollverein any higher or other import 
duties than those which are levied on articles of the like kind 
which are the produce of another British Possession, provided 
such duties are not higher or other than the duties imposed 
on articles of the like kind, being the produce of the United 
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.’ } 
But apart from the strict interpretation of the Treaty, it 
seems very doubtful whether it would be a wise course on 
the part of the Australasian Colonies, which, both as regards 
emigration and trade, have more extensive relations with 
Germany than with, perhaps, any other foreign country, 
to place German products and manufactures under disad- 
vantage in the Colonial markets. 
Proceeding to the third question, Whether, if the principle 
of allowing the imposition of differential duties were conceded, 
the Colonies could be permitted to impose such duties without 
the express sanction of the Imperial Government in each 
particular case ? you will be prepared, by what I have 
already said, to learn that I consider it open to serious doubt 
whether such absolute freedom of action could be safely given. 
Her Majesty’s Government are alone responsible for the 
due observance of Treaty arrangements between foreign 
countries and the whole Empire, and it would be scarcely 
possible for the Colonial Governments to foresee the extent 
to which the trade of other parts of the Empire might be 
affected by special tariff agreements between particular 
Colonies. 
It must, moreover, be anticipated that these differential 
agreements, being avowedly for the supposed benefit of 
certain classes of the community, would be liable to be affected 
by temporary political circumstances. The door having been 
once opened, each producing or manufacturing interest, and 
even individuals desirous of promoting any new enterprise, 
might in turn press for exceptionally favourable treatment 
under the form of inter-colonial reciprocity, while the real 
grounds for such changes as might be proposed would be 
intelligible only to those concerned with local politics. 
It would appear, therefore, to be by no means clear that 
Her Majesty’s Government could be relieved from the obliga- 
tion of examining the particulars of each contemplated agree- 
ment, however limited ; and while it would be very difficult 
for them to make such an examination in a satisfactory 
manner, a detailed inquiry of this kind could hardly fail to 
be irksome to the Colonies, and to lead to misunderstandings. 
It remains for me, lastly, to ask how far it is expedient,