APPENDIY IL 191

that would not be, as a whole, identical with our
interests in every respect.
Besides, I do not think that there can be any scheme
which can be permanently established between the
two countries, unless they are subject to such
modifications as may become necessary in the course
of time.

13. Do you consider that the fulfilment of My. Chameviain's
 scheme would lead to Free Trade within the
Empive ?

(A)—No; the very longest road to Free Trade is
rd Protection.
(B.)—1 do not suppose that Mr. Chamberlain’s proposals
 would necessarily lead to Free Trade within the
Empire; many of the colonies believe in Protection
per se, and are used and inclined to indirect taxation;
for many years to come, either as revenue or for protection,
 or both, tariff imposts must be exacted ; nevertheless,
 my personal belief is, that if the policy of
Mr. Chamberlain is to succeed, it will be because its
modifications from time to time are in a direction
which will lead eventually to Free Trade throughout
the Empire.
(C.)—No; for, as has been pointed out already,
colonial manufacturers are not disposed to Free
Trade.

(D.)—So far as I understand Mr. Chamberlain’s
heme 1 consider it impracticable, incapable of
astablishment, merely because it is hard to believe
that Great Britain would jeopardise her present commercial
 position for any temporary formal arrange:
ment for preferential trade with the dependencies,
and hard to believe that the dependencies, or say
Canada, would enter into any formal, permanent
arrangement circumscribing or limiting her fiscal
independence. Did Great Britain follow Canada’s
lead and give a preference without asking anything ip