The paper of Thursday published a letter from Mr. Balfour
to a correspondent who had asked whether the impression in Canada that the attitude of the Unionist Party towards Preference had changed was justified. Mr. Balfour replied that the development of the Commercial Treaty system throughout the world had strengthened his conviction that Imperial Preference is a necessity. He admitted that in the Election campaign he had spoken more on the Constitutional question than on any other, but in the circumstances this was inevitable. "Nevertheless the Fiscal controversy retained its old place in the Unionist programme." Certain Tariff Reformers, we observe, are trying to convince themselves that but for the Referendum they could have won the General Election. This, we are sure, is mere moonshine. The Referendum was a help, not a hindrance. Sir William Forwood, who knows Lancashire as well as any man, said in a letter to the Times on Thursday :—
"The improved Unionist position in Lancashire and Cheshire was mainly due to Mr. Balfour's declaration at the Albert Hall pledging the party not to adopt Tariff Reform till it had received the approval of the country by means of a Refer-
endum It is difficult to describe the effect of Mr. Balfour's speech in the Liverpool and Manchester Exchanges ; men seemed to feel as if a great weight had been lifted off their shoulders, and to breathe freely again."
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