7 MARCH 1903, Page 3

On Thursday afternoon Mr. Balfour received an influential deputation on

the subject of our food supply in time of war, introduced by the Duke of Sutherland. The Prime Minister in his speech, with his usual skill in analysis and dialectic, put his finger at once on the essential point. That we should get our food supplies and supplies of raw material in war-time he did not doubt—he put aside the question of a complete blockade as synonymous with national destruction—but only at a price. "It was a question of price, and the question of price was ultimately a question of insurance." Here is the crux of the whole question. Personally, we do not see why the Government on the declaration of war should not itself gratuitously insure all vessels and cargoes against war risks, provided they were insured privately against ordinary perils. We must not forget to add that Mr. Balfour warned his hearers in a most impressive way against the folly of adopting courses which would inflict upon the country in peace-time the very evils which they were afraid of in time of war. We welcome this unmistakable declaration against the many schemes in favour of Protection, bounties, and Government granaries which have been before the public from time to time.