Mr. Asquith, addressing a large Liberal and Free-trade gathering at
Hartham Park, Wiltshire, last Saturday after- noon, claimed for the present Government an exceptional record of legislative and administrative achievement. By general consent our foreign and Indian policy had never been in wiser, more capable, or more trustworthy hands, while their handling of Colonial problems, notably those of South• Africa, was a sufficient answer to their opponents' claim that they, and they only, had a monopoly of patriotism and Imperial sentiment. The Imperial Conference had resulted in a clear mutual understanding on the question of Colonial Preference. Both the Imperial and the Colonial delegates had stated their views with perfect frankness and parted excellent friends. He only wished that the Unionist Party would show equal frankness with the people of this country,
and tell them whether they were prepared to tax the necessities of life and industry in order to carry out the so-called policy of Colonial Preference. Turning to national finance, Mr. Asquith stated that the Debt of the nation will have been reduced from March, 1906, to March, 1908, by twenty-three millions, while he was responsible for a net remission of taxation to the amount of three and a half millions.
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