5 APRIL 1919, Page 2

The British Empire must never again be found wanting if

it is to stand a state of siege. It is largely on thegromid that the Imperial garrison must be kept well stocked with necessaries that Imperial Preference can no longer be resisted. It insincerely to be hoped that Mr. Chamberlain will make a clear statement of fiscal policy in his forthcoming Budget. Till that is done trade cannot be expected to revive properly. The resistance to Imperial Preference now comes very oddly from the Asquitbian Liberals, who approved early in the war of the resolutions of the Paris Conference.