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THE bREAl'.{ OF A BRITISH ZOLLVEREIN 4 01
peace, therefore, the colonies of a Free-trade Empire
can hafdly complain that the mother country is attached
to a policy which tends to the breaking down of barriers
bet~en nations as well as between the separate parts
of some nations. As their views of policy enlarge they
ought to perceive that many things have to be consid-
ered between States besides momentary advantages of
the market which may bylk very largely in the eyes of
small communities. Larger horizons and larger ideas
belong to the politics of Empire.
One of the first points to be determined when the
colonies and the mother country are in council cannot
but be this question of Free Trade or Protection as
the policy of the Empire; and it is the colonies and
not the mother country that should give way. Their
so doing will be the first step to Imperial Federation,
which will hardly be possible on any other footing.
I would next suggest as a help towards commercial
union, and as being, in fact, a union of that nature as
far as it goes, the formation of an intimate postal,
telegraph, and communi'ca#on union, independent of,
though not opposing, postal and telegraph agreements
with foreign countries. The means of communication
between different parts of the Empire should not only
be promoted in common, but as much as possible the
general direction should be the same. As far as postal
and telegraph communication is concerned, it may be
assumed, all will be agreed, but the question embraces
much more than merely posts and telegraphs. Rail-
ways in certain directions, as for example between
South and North Australia, or the Cape to Cairo
Railway, or the Canadian Pacific Railways, are of
interest to the whole Empire. In the same way, I
believe "it is an Imperial concern that shipping com-
munication between the different parts of the Empire,
riot only for mails-but for the conveyance of goods and
passengers, should not be left mainly ta chance-as is
now practically the case. Steam-shipping subsidies are
too exclusively settled as mail subsidies from the de-
lI. DD