The much-talked-of meeting of the Tariff Reform group in the
House of Commons took place under the presidency of Mr. Chamberlain on Thursday evening. Those present were pledged to secrecy, but an official communique was issued on Friday stating that a deputation, headed by Mr. Chamberlain, was to wait on Mr. Balfour to' lay before him certain resolu- tions which were intended to unify opinion within the Unionist party in regard to the Fiscal question. As Mr Balfour's answer was not given till Friday afternoon, it is necessary for us to postpone comment for another week; but we presume that the resolutions will be like those passed by the Liberal Union Club, and that Mr. Balfour will accept them as expressions of loyalty to him. • This result will thereupon, we presume, be hailed as a victory for Balfourism, and a surrender on the part of Mr. Chamberlain. No doubt recent events are signs of weakness on Mr. Chamberlain's part, but we doubt the victory for Balfourism. We have always held that Mr. Balfour and Mr. Chamberlain meant to work together and keep together, however much their under- lings might bicker, and therefore we are not in the least surprised to see them publicly fraternising in face of such a disaster as the Brighton election.
Previous page
