UNIONIST PARTY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 413, 23 January 1909, Page 5

UNIONIST PARTY.

TARIFF REFORM. NOTICE TO FREE-FOODERS. , : MUST ACCEPT BIRMINGHAM POLICY, (m TELEOitArn—rntas association—copyright.) London, January 21. Tho Conservative Central Office has resolved not to support Unionist free-food candidates at tho next election unless tho freofooders, unreservedly adopt Mr. Balfour's tariff reform policy as outlined in his speech at tho Birmingham conference in November, 1907. ._ . ' . T_HE VETERAN TAKES A HAND. "ISSUE WILL CLEARLY BE TARIFF , REFORM." (Rec. January 23, 1.5 a.m.) London, January 22, Mr. Chamberlain's recovery from his prolonged illness is slow. Ho offers to stand again at next •"election. Mr. Chamberlain has written to Viscount Morpeth, President of tho Birmingham Unionist Association, stating that organisation is more than ever important, inasmuch as the issuo at the next elections -will clearly bo tariff reform, or perhaps, as a' substituto, a socialistic platform, which would do more harm than good. i \ LINES OF CLEAVAGE. , RELATIONS Of UNIONIST SECTIONS. Tho Unionist party, good as its prospects are, has certain lines of cleavage which, may prove dangerous, and'even destructive, and the above cablegram touches en them. Sonic of the tariff reform newspapers .'among, the Unionist press have urged tnat only by opposing every frea trade candidato at the general election by a tariff rtformar can a tariff reform majority be seenred, and they havo suggested that tho fr«o trade section :'of the Unionist party should receive no quarter.' Dealing with this effort to secure a tariff reform majority regardless of everything else,' a. correspondent ("Zollvorein") wrote seme time ago to The Times": Tariff Reform First, Rest Nowhere."Pleaso note, a Tariff Reform majority—not a Unionist'majority; Truly this is a.case of Tariff Reform,everywhere and tho rest—that is, the union,-tho struggle against Socialism, predatory or eleemosynary, the maintenance of a second chamber, the defence of Conservative i principles—nowhere." In the opinion of "Zoll-

,verein,"/it is -high time to recognise 'that tie. Unionist party; contains;' not -two wings,, but three sections: tha old Free Traders, the Pisoal Reformers _(i.e.,i :the Balfourites), and the;extreme ~Tariff, Reformers. Unless a "vigorous stand; is made \ against, this last. section—the noiscst, if- not; the ' most influential—he ' fears that,it, will either- drag the whole. party into a.'common. defeat,"6f "purchase, a Pyrrhio victory, in'' its name, by pledging' the; party to. Socialistic' 6ohemes : which .can. neither bo' repudiated Without'discredit nor be'fulfilled without disastrous cbßse<inences." v "■ , r : ..- Freefooder's, Desire for Unity. ', : Lord Cromer, Free has. suggested' that the extreme .Tariff Reformers;, with their?one-eyed 'polioy,- might'be willing to sell themselves not. only, to -Socialism ; but, even to, the'; Irish .'party.'/, ,-A complaint on' behalf ..of. Uniorast Free: Traders has been voiced by Lord Hugh Cecil,' who drew'attention,;': in ■ "The Times"- to "the' treatment which 'the Unionist Free.' .are.' receiving from .'-the-'Tariff Reformers.'.'in,spite;.of-the fact ; that on questions, outside ' the 'fiscal., issue many of ; the Unionis.tiFreß; Traders have 'doneirriotable /service -Hetj oni»t<!4g:ont;,how-...ea5y,., itowould ;be for Unionist-iFreO'Tradors 1 to ; such a .civil/, war J will be ■ deplprabler-deplorablo for the.'sake of,those.jwhb are:threatened-by'Radi-,c'al legislation, and,who need all the; help they ,can : ,get>,to;:mak9>.hea'd against' their.'enemies.". He ;went ,ori'.'to' : declare, that' his,-.is. not. an .individual- opinion, ,but t that "three-fourths ofthe "Unionist "party disapprove of the proceedings of the (Tariff Reform)' Confederates." ':'„"If, :(ien,.unity,;is:to,bei'preserved'and the party is not. to be divided just at the "moment when' it.is.engaged'in'.a-Dio'st anxious conflict,'wiser, men must make' aotive efforts,to'restrain the violence of;these extremists."-'- ■;' ; .', ',

,'Slr. 'Batfouf's./D'eiieatd Position,.;. ';, V ;'.jlthas.beeh'' : Mr,: Balfour's task, as. a leader to nnd.\a iplatform expressed 'in' sufficiently, ; general terms to embface : the'approximate'aims' and to/satisfy.,the 'reasonable 'scruples; of'-'all sections- of-the .Unionist ■ party. l ' /The- Gonservatiyo .CeritraUOffice'now, calls'on; Unionist Free Traders to'subscribe, to Mr.' Balfour's platform if ■they wish to,receive! the party support..',. It is, therfore,-interesting to' recall, how Mr, Balfour's utterances..compare.with free trade and Tariff .Reform; extremes. : Mr? Balfour did not speak expressly; of taxation of food at Birmingham in 1907. v ; 'ln November of that year the National _, Union '•'of Conservative. Assooiationa met in Birmingham, and Mr.-H. Chaplin, M.P., 'moved declaring that the first constructive . policy., of the Unionist-..party should be reform,of the fiscal system with the view of .broadening the/basis of taxation, safeguarding : our productive industries .from' unfair competition, strengthening bur position for tho purpose of negotiation in foreign markets, and establishing preferential commercial nrrange;ments with the/colonies. 1 This was carried. '

Four Propositions, ';,//;. :/.■,-' :Mr.; Balfour-is;WpoHed; as 'saying: '"The resolution divides. the question into • four heads —broadening the-basis of taxation, safeguard-' ing our, great-' productive industries from unfair competition,-strengthening.our position for the, purpose, of negotiation in foreign markets, and establishing ; preferential commercial arrangements withvthe colonies.and securing for British /producer's and workmen a further advantage over foreign competitors in the colonial markets. '■:'-.;/: •'"'., : "To that programme of fiscal' reform I need not 'say .1 heartily subscribe. I-. think you might 'approach,the whole policy of tariff' reform from any, one of. these four propositions, and I,believe you would arrive; at the 'feme practical result.; The'policy which is good for one' is.-. good;' for "the others-T-by ~the policy by which one can'.be promoted the. others .can be advanced, attd.we can,confidently say that'any .fiscal ..change, .we., darry out would. not- be merely independent, efforts to; 'deal first'/.with' this opposition and then with-that, but'a comprehensive; scheme, bywhioh all four of/those groat:■'! causes 'might, bo equally. advanced.' ;Broadoning .of. the'basis of. taxation is absolutely, necessary.: in, my judgment' for revenue, purposes." . ' :'v ■' ■-~:'-1- '.<- . ''< j