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THE TANGLES OF A TARIFF
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neutrals, and to harmonize the operations of the new and predominant needs of defence with the national and Imperial interests of the older plan.

A tariff that is good for purposes of "defence" must, it will be admitted, be framed so as to fulfil two conditions: (1) It must bind together in unity and amity the British Empire and the Allies; (2) it must make this union self-sufficing for all the essential requisites of war and peace. Does the proposed tariff fulfil these conditions? That tariff has to perform a more difficult task than any ever yet erected by any State. It has to discriminate between five different bodies. It has, first, to protect the industry and agriculture of the British Isles; secondly, to give preferential treatment to the Empire; thirdly, to cement the Alliance by mutually favourable tariff treaties; fourthly, to apply to neutral nations a general tariff; fifthly, to exclude enemy goods, or at least to secure ourselves from dependence upon enemies for anything essential.

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