It was often said that the Colonies did not desire
that food duties should be imposed in Great Britain. If this proved to be true, no such duties would be imposed in any circumstances. The Unionist Party emphatically did not wish to impose them for their own sake. They were not pro- posed for the sake of Protection, but only for the sake of Preference, in other words for the purpose of Imperial unity. Unless the Conference regarded them as essential they would not be imposed. All he asked for was authority to enter into negotiations with the Colonies with a view to imposing food duties if necessary—duties which within strict limits would never be increased. He went on to offer another pledge. He promised that "long before the election comes" the people should know " within what limits " the Unionist leaders desired authority to impose Food Taxes. Those limits of taxation would never be exceeded by any Unionist Admini- stration until express sanction had been received from the people. Finally, Mr. Law said that if he were asked why the tariff as agreed upon in the Conference could not be submitted to a Referendum, his answer was that it would be unfair to the Colonies. They would be bound ; we should go free.
