The Government side was set forth by the Lord Chancellor
and by Lord Lansdowne, but neither added very much to our knowledge of the Government's real attitude. Lord Lansdowne, however, endorsed Mr. Akers-Douglas's declaration that the Government are opposed to any tax on food or raw materials. No doubt for the moment the Government think they are opposed to it, but how long would the conviction last, we wonder, if Mr. Chamberlain should by some miracle win a seat or increase a majority at a by-election? We cannot close our account of the debate without a reference to Lord Robertson's masterly, though almost too vitriolic speech. Many of the best judges of Parliamentary oratory declare that nothing more striking has been heard in the House of Lords daring the present generation. When the division was taken the Government were only able to obtain a majority of 51 (98 to 47).
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