"THE TIMES."

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13008, 9 January 1908, Page 7

"THE TIMES."

STATEMENT BY MR PEARSON.

United Fr*is Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, January 7. Mr C. A- Pearson, in a letter to the nwwepapera, denies that th© Tariff Reform League is oormeoted with the roorgWusatiosn of "Tho Times." He also declares,that tho "Stoudaad'* wiß continue to be, a. distinct publication.

-Mr Pearson is, ot was, vice-prwidenit of the Tariff Reform League and vioechainnatt oi th© Tariff Commission, and tho "Standard" and the "Daily Express,'? which ere controlled by hkn, ar© very strongly in favour of Tariff Reform being the first constructive work of the Unionist party. "The Timoy' subscribes to Mr Chamberlain's policy, but does not advocate it so strongly as Mr Pearson's organs. Indeed it caUed a halt the other day in the campaign of the more enthusiastic tariff irelormors. The primary duty of Unionists was, it said, to maintain an attitude of defence, "writh serried ranks and cautious tactics,'' and it was not the time "for brilliant sallies, or sporting exhibitions of individual audacity, which have their usee in offensive action." ''Wo do not yet perceive," it said in conclusion, "the signs of so, pronounced a revulsion of feeling as would make a victory of that kind (a decisive one) possible upon a tariff reform platform. Mr Balfour long ago perceived and stated that such a change could not be carried into effect without an assurance that it_ would not be reversed by another election. In face of the present political storm, the urgent duties of th© Unionists, while including a vigorous tariff reform propaganda, do not seem to call for the making of it into a test question or into th© exclusive object of concern."