20 JUNE 1903, Page 2

After Lord Brassey and Lord Jersey, both ex-Colonial Governors, had

expressed strong opinions against preferential duties, Lord Balfour of Burleigh made the cautious, sensible speech which was to be expected from one of the ablest and most experienced of our statesmen and administrators. But though he advocated full inquiry into Mr. Chamberlain's plan, speaking for himself, he had little or no expectation that the inquiry he indicated would show it to be either practicable or desirable to reverse the principles upon which our fiscal policy was based. Lord Spencer, who followed Lord Balfour, drove home Mr. Chamberlain's proposal to tax the food of the people. He also dealt very effectively with the retaliation argument by quoting the words of Sir Robert Peel to which we drew attention last week.