The chorus of approval was not, however, universally whole-hearted, nor
does the Government's action mean that harmony is established in the Cabinet for all time.
A section of opinion, as yet more vocal outside the House than inside it, has made, up its mind that the Government will disintegrate and is therefore ready, if not determined, to be disappointed at anything which the Government may do. The expectationsit would be unfair to call , them hopes—of this section have been almost blatantly revealed in'the speeches of Mr. Amery and Mr. Churchill ; though they are not in fact widely echoed in the House • itself. The.ground of complaint against the Government is that they have preferred the method of a selective tariff to the method of a general tariff, and they are reproached.with having left agriculture to look after itself. More may be heard of this matter very shortly. For many, reasons—notably Mr. Thomas's desire .to carry a, . definite offer to the DUminions on his forthcoming tourj--- the question whether the method of a selective tariff should be extended to foodstuffs is difficult to postpone ; and that is in fact why powers to use the method in the case of manufactures is limited to six months. Before that time has expired some more general system of experiment will have to be devised. At the moment there appears no valid reason for a clash, for no member of the Cabinet is averse from duties on delicacies, from exploration of the quota policy, or from giving Mr. Thomas a free hand to negotiate.
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