On the disunion in the Unionist Party we feel still
more strongly, not because it arises from a rigid insistence on Protectionist principles in which we have no faith, but because the keen Protectionists are those who have. more than any one else promoted disunion through the past few weeks. Instead of leaving the question open, as the only' way in which a National Government could hope to collaborate in the salvage of the country, they would insist that every candidate on their side should be pledged to Protection and would thus make the election a party squabble over Free Trade. They would be blind to the great and vital issue and make nonsense of the word " National " in the election. Thereby, too, they would gravely risk the success of their side at the polls by alienating thousands of Voters, especially women, who dread Protection: We are reiterating words that.we wrote last week, and our view has since then been completely confirmed by a weighty letter to The TiMes from Lord Grey of Fallodon, to which we refer in a leading article. We desire no better confirmation than his. On the other side Mr. Amery wrote a letter which appeared in The Times of October 6th. It was severely castigated in a leading article on the same page, as just the letter that he. might have written in 1923 when he urged his party on to defeat ; and we can leave his misehief- making alone. To judge by the Prime Minister's appeal, published on Thursday, he has been able to keep control so far, for he claims that the Government must be " free to consider" such proposals as tariffs ; and no more.
