The Prime Minister made a spirited speech at Manchester on
Thursday night. Speaking of the relations between the Opposition and the Imperial Conference, he said: "I think we were justified in hoping that the responsible bead of a great party would abstain from taking a hand in the unblushing attempt which some of his friends have been making—with a signal lack of success—to commandeer and use the Imperial Conference for the purposes of Tory opposition. I think I do right in publicly protesting against it." We agree that any attempt to try to sow dissension between the Colonies and a Government returned by a vast majority to preserve Free-trade merely because the Government are doing their bare duty is a regrettable example of a want of true patriotism. Answering Prince Billow's speech on the Hague Conference, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman said that the suspicion that the Government wished to embarrass Germany was "absolutely unfounded." He added : "I recognise and respect the candour with which Prince Billow has decided to stand aside from the discussion [as to the limitation of armaments], and, though his Majesty's Govern- ment deeply regret the necessity for such abstention, they appreciate the complete openness with which Germany's policy has been stated and the friendliness of the Chancellor's speech."
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