4 AUGUST 1928, Page 23

It is well known to politicians, if not to the

general public, that the advocates of a general tariff arc bestirring themselves in view of next year's elections. Hence we have Mr. J. M. Robertson producing a vigorous set of papers on The Political Economy of Free Trade (P. S. King, 8s. tkl.). Ile regards Protectionists as either fools or knaves and trounces them §eVCTely. 11c seems to doubt whether even Mr. Lloyd George is sound in the faith and despairs of the Labour Party. It may be suggested that Mr. Robertson might throw more light on the question if he introduced less heat into its discussion. The tariff problem is not purely economic, nor can it be considered altogether apart from other national problems.