On Thursday the Executive Committee of the Unionist Free-Trade Club—Mr.
Elliot, M.P., presiding, and the Duke of Devonshire, Lord James of Hereford, Lord Balfour of Burleigh, and other Peers and Members of the House of . Commons being present—passed the following resolution :—
"That the statement made by Mr. Chamberlain at St. Helens that the Prime Minister had declared that • Tariff Reform would be the most important part of Unionist policy, and that Colonial Preference was the most important part of Tariff Reform, and would, therefore, be the first item in the future Unionist pro- gramme,' is inconsistent with public declarations of the Primo Minister, and will, unless authoritatively contradicted, do serious injury to the Unionist and Free-trade cause ; and as it is the declared object of the Unionist Free-Trade Club to oppose Protection in all its forms and under whatever names it may be put before the electors,' and as tho Club has resisted, and will continuo to resist, the policy of so-called Tariff Reform and Colonial Preference based on the taxation of food, as propounded by Mr. Chamberlain, it regrets that no clear statement has been made to Parliament by the Government to dissociate itself from its alleged support of this policy."
That is a resolution certainly no stronger than the facts warrant. It will, we trust, dispose of the absurd statements in the Press that Unionist Free-traders are satisfied with the latest developments of Mr. Balfour's attitude towards the Chamberlain policy.
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