Chapter II: Mr. Chamberlain’s Programme

Mr. Balfour merely suggested that England might have recourse to a policy of Retaliation; Mr. Chamberlain went much further. It is not necessary to go into the details of the policy which he unfolded in Glasgow on October 6, 1903, and Greenock on October 7th—it is too well known. Its main proposals may be briefly summarised under three heads:—

(1) Duties on foreign foodstuffs also produced at home or in the colonies, which should raise the price by the full amount of the duty.

(2) Colonies, following the example of Canada, to grant preferential duties on English manufactures.

(3) A 10 per cent. tax on foreign manufactures, to give employment to British workmen.