At Leeds last Saturday Mr. Bonar Law pointed out that
he stood for new methods rather than for a new policy. Cabinet Government would take the place of " One-man Government." There had been much talk about the loss of "first-class brains " owing to the downfall of the Coalition. As a matter of fact, there were first-class brains among the new Government, as could be proved by examination records, but what he valued more than brilliancy were character, judgment and foresight. As regards Ireland, Mr. Bonar Law acknowledged the terrible condition of the country, but he declared that the Free State could always count upon our word being our bond. In foreign affairs the whole basis of our policy must be co-operation with France and Italy. The Foreign Office would be restored to its old position. Mr. Bonar Law explained why in 1917 lie had regarded a capital levy as an open question. It then seemed that the war might continue for two or three years and a conscription of capital might have been unavoidable. To-day, however, a capital levy would be lunacy.
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