THE RESULTS OF THE POLICY. or

be? We have already dealt with the effect of Mr.
Chamberlain’s proposals upon the United States,
and the danger appertaining thereto. The United
States will certainly not be the only country similarly
affected by the proposals and similarly desirous of
breaking down the Imperial preference. It is a
danger which will from all sides assail the individual
units making up the Empire. Britain will have
to see that the inducements that she offers are
superior to those of other countries. In the case
of Canada and the United States she clearly
cannot compete. In most other cases she might
be able to compete successfully, but it would not
be a dignified spectacle to see Britain bidding
against a foreigner for the favours of one of her
~olonies who was engaged in playing off one
suitor against the other in order to secure the
best terms for herself.
If we establish a material tie which must depend
for its stability on the commercial advantages we
can offer, can we bid high enough to keep the
squalid bond intact and strong?
Great Britain with the best intentions possible
will not be able to bid against other countries.
She will have to remember her teeming masses
and her limited resources, her own manufacturers
and the expansion of their trade. So that if it
comes to bidding, we shall always be urged by the
offers of other countries to increase our offers, until
finally we succumb. The United States will
assuredly endeavour to possess herself of any