UNIONIST LEADERSHIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 35, 9 February 1906, Page 5

UNIONIST LEADERSHIP.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S STATE- • MENT. LOYAL TO MR. BALFOUB. BUT UttMSPENDENT PARTY MAY BE FORMED. ißy Cable.-Press Assodatlon.-Copyrigbt) LONDON, February S. Mr. Chamberlain has written to Lord Ridley, stating that in no circumstances will he be a candidate for the leadership of the Unionist party. First, because of his close friendship with Mr. Balfour, and second, because he agrees that the leader of a party seven-tenths of the members of which are Conservatives, ought to be a Conservative. It is untrue, he says, that any ultimatum has been presented to Mr. Balfour on the leadership question. He only desires the party to meet and frankly discuss its future policy. Different sections held different views regarding tariff reform. Those desiring it to be dropped for the present as an active policy forgot that if the question were shelved all the fWithusiasm that had been aroused would be damped down, and the work of educating the country would be stopped. Such a position would be entriely inconsistent with Mr. Balfour's statement that tariff reform was the first item of the constructive policy of the Unionists and commercial union with the colonies the most important and most urgent branch of tariff reform. The second suggestion was that while impressing tariff reform at present, the Unionists should unite on the basis of the half-sheet of notepaper policy. These did not recognise that the advanced tariff reformers thought the party ought to frankly admit the probability of having to place a moderate duty on foreign corn in return for substantial colonial preference to British manufacturers. Mr. Chamberlain continues: "Mr. Balfour, while not objecting to the principle of such a duty, yet has not protested against the statement of the Unionist Free Fooders that in no circumstances will they assent to a duty on corn. i "The tariff reformers also believed that effective retaliation is impossible without a general tariff." Mr. Chamberlain denies that he has attempted to exclude from the Unionist party all declining to accept the whole programme of the Tariff Reform League. "It is dishonest to pretend that the Unionist Free Fooders are in the same boat as the Tariff Reformers and the Retaliationists. Personally I believe that ' the great majority of the Unionists are perfectly ready to accept Mr. Balfour's ' general leadership, and probably the majority would welcome a declaration from • Mr. Balfour clearly showing that tariff • reform is not to be dropped, and mdi- i eating a definite and unmistakable programme for the future, which all would ' be able to heartily support. 1 "If the majority of the party favoured ' the views of the Free Fooders. or desired ' the whole question to be left in abeyance, the Tariff Reformers must reconsider the ' position. Without separating from the I party or the general leadership of Mr. Balfour, they might very properly con- 1 stitute a Parliamentary group and take advantage of all opportunities for en- * forcing their views in the House of Com- ' mons and the country. i "The Tariff Reformers cannot put aside < principles to suit the exigencies of the party wire-pullers. Whilst ready to work ] with their Unionist colleagues for com- ; mon objects, they cannot accopt a policy 1 of inaction and mystification regarding < the main object of their political life. i "I am honestly convinced that in the ( acceptance of a full measure of tariff re- < form lies the best hope for the future 7 success of the party and the cause. ,, < i VIEWS OF THE PRESS. ] (Received 8.34 a.m.) 1 LONDON, February 8. The "Daily Telegraph," "The Times" and "The Standard" agree in welcoming Mr. Chamberlain's opportune letter, and advise conciliation and compromise. "The Standard" states that Mr. Balfour agrees as to summoning a meeting of the party.