THE RESULTS OF THE POLICY. 87

The more Imperial the scheme, therefore, and
the more it is attempted to make the Empire an
economic whole for the purposes of preferential
treatment, the bigger grow the obstacles to it. It
becomes, in fact, increasingly apparent, that the
bond which unites the Empire depends for its
existence upon its inability to be materialised into
a sort of profit and loss account, and that the
moment an attempt is made to do so and to commercialise
 the tie which unites so many great
nations widely scattered with widely divergent
interests. that tie becomes at once impossible.

Tue CARRVING OUT OF THE PROGRAMME.

We have sketched some of the difficulties that
lie in the way of Mr. Chamberlain’s scheme. It
now remains to be seen how, in the face of them,
the scheme can be put into force. That Canada
will consent to become a unit in a commercial confederacy
 is, in the present state of Canadian opinion,
out of the question. As we have already said,
the best informed opinion in Canada regards
the scheme commercially and not imperially. On

My. Vince. What is proposed is a reciprocal arrangement.
 If the colonies will not give what we want, we
shall not give what they ask.
Questioner. You think they will let our manufacturers
trade on equal terms?
My. Vince. I would not go so far as that. The colonies
have a few manufactures which have been established,
fortunately or unfortunately, as protected industries, and
they will be obliged to continue protecting these industries.