172 APPENDIX II.

which she does not herself produce and which she now
gets cheaper or better from foreign countries than
she could possibly from England, but I do not think
that Canada would consider that in making a tariff
arrangement with Great Britain she would be obliged
to tie her hands with all other countries willing to
enter into preferential arrangements with this country.
(a.)—The effect would be on the consumer an
enhanced price for the benefit of a few manufacturers
on this side.
Their cry here already is to raise the duty all round
so as to encourage the making of these goods in this
rotintrv.

(b.)—I do not think it would add to the prosperity
of the country ; on the contrary I think that a revenue
tariff such as exists at present is more advantageous in
every respect than a high or prohibitive tariff.

7. If Myr. Chamberiain's scheme be cavvied out, no colony
will be able to make a commercial treaty with any foreign
country, which would entail loweving its taviff against that
country, and thus distuvbing the Impevial prefevence. Is
Canada willing to make this sacrifice of fiscal independence ?
(A.)—Sir Wilfrid Laurier voiced the sentiment of
the country when he said at the Montreal Conference
of Boards of Trade, that under no circumstances and
for no purpose would we be willing to part with any
portion of our powers of self-government,
(B.)—This question begins by an assertion of fact. If
the assertion is true, the willingness of Canada to make
such a sacrifice will depend on ‘the nature and extent
of the Imperial preference. I do not think this is a
practical difficulty, as Great Britain is our best customer
 in so many things.
(C)—I do not think that Canada as a whole is
likely to sacrifice any fiscal or political independence.
(D.)—1I do not believe Canada would sacrifice a jot
of fiscal independence on any account, except in so far