ful deflection has been given to
our discussion when it is suggested that we may find a more convenient
line of advance by improving communications, rather than by erecting
tariffs--by making roads, as it were, across the Empire, rather than
by building walls. It is because we believe the principle of
preference is positively injurious to the British Empire, and would
create, not union, but discord, that we have resisted the proposal.

It has been a source of regret to all of us that on this subject we
cannot come to an agreement. A fundamental difference of opinion on
economics, no doubt, makes agreement impossible; but although we
regret that, I do not doubt that in the future, when Imperial
unification has been carried to a stage which it has not now reached,
and will not, perhaps, in our time attain, people in that more
fortunate age will look back to the Conference of 1907 as a date in
the history of the British Empire when one grand wrong turn was
successfully avoided.

FOOTNOTES:

[2] The following, among others, were present at the Conference:

The Earl of Elgin, Secretary of State for the Colonies; Sir Wilfrid
Laurier, Prime Minister of Canada; Sir F.W. Borden, Minister of Militia
and Defence (Canada); Mr. L.P. Brodeur, Minister of Marine and
Fisheries (Canada); Mr. Deakin, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of
Australia; Sir W. Lyne, Minister of Trade and Customs (Australia); Sir
Joseph Ward, Prime Minister of New Zealand; Dr. L.S. Jameson, Prime
Minister of Cape Colony; Dr. Smartt, Commissioner of Public Works (Cape
Colony); Sir Robert Bond, Prime Minister of Newfoundland; Mr. F.R.
Moor, Prime Minister of Natal; General Botha, Prime Minister of the
Transvaal; Sir J.L. Mackay, on behalf of the India Office.

[3] The Prime Minister of Natal.

IMPERIAL PREFERENCE

II

HOUSE OF COMMONS, _July 15, 1907_

Mr. Lyttelton had moved the following vote of censure:

"That this House regrets that his Majesty's Government
have declined the invitation unanimously preferred by the
Prime Ministers of the self-governing Colonies, to
consider favourably any form of Colonial Preference or
any measures for closer commercial union of the Empire on
a preferential basis." (Mr. Lyttelton.)

This was met on behalf of the Government by the following
Amendment:

"To leave out all after the word 'that' and add the words
'In the opinion of this House, the p