The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-06-11
BALFOUR'S DEXTERITY
PREMIER SAVES SCALP OF
 SECRETARY CHAMBERLAIN.
Admits Friction in the Cabinet and Says His Mind is Open as to Free Trade and
 Protection.

London, June 10.-By a dexterous and extraordinary speech, Premier Balfour to- night temporarily smoothed over the diff ferences in the Cabinet, relieved Colonial Secretary Chamberlain of any necessity of resigning and for the moment averted a crisis which threatened the Unoinist Party.
 This MT. Balfour accomplished without committing the Government either to pro lection or free trade, though the effect of his speech will generally be taken to mean that the tariff issue is to be shelved for the present.
 Henry Chaplins amendment, which gave rise to the most interesting debate of the present Parliament was defeated by an overwhelming majority of 396 votes composed of Unionists, Liberals and Irish members.
 The minority who supported MT. Chap lins amendment were almost all followers of the Government, while many others of the Conservative Party abstained from voting
 In a whimsical vein, MT. Balfour ex- plained that the only reason that the corn tax was put on was because the Government wanted money and the only reason it was taken off was because the
 
 verting to the charges of vaccilation made | against him. the Premier took on a tone of unusual vehemence. He declared that he himself. though believer in free | trade, which statement met with loud applause, did not regard it as a fetich and he had absolutely an open mind re- | gardng the necessity for any alterations | in a system which was founded to suit | conditions of fifty years ago. | He refused not only to make A state ment of any finality upon such an inn | portant question: but he also refused to | compel his colleagues to conform to standard of opinion upon which he him l self had an open mind. He admitted that differences of opinion existed in the Cab | inet, but these were not serious enough to cause the resignation of any member | MT. Balfour made an impassioned 1 plea, enforced by the precedents of fric- 1 ton in MT. Gladstones ministry, for allowing the Premier to retain an open | mind upon a question so difficult and 70 superior to all party lines.
 The Speaker did not believe that the country would ever return to the old | protective system and no tax on food was ever imposed without the full assert of the working classes, They were con- fronted, however, continued the Premier, by great. phenomenal. huge tariff walls against the United Kingdom; the growth ] of the trusts and the desire of the colo | nies for closer fiscal union with the mother country. These factors could not 1 be ignored He maintained that the meth | cd of starting a public discussion was the only way to deal with these phe- nomena, though he did not commit him. self to MT. Chamberlains more advanced program.
 This non-committa1 speech and appeal made with all the eloquence and mag netism, which MT. Balfour welds so successfully, for an open mind not only 1 in the Cabinet, but in the Unionist party, brought constant salvo of cheers. Throughout MT. Chamberlain sat beside the leader of the House. beaming with l satisfaction
 Sir Henry Campbell Zimmerman. the | Liberal leader, briefly replied. appealing Tor an opportunity for the House to more fully discuss the issue raised. He said one member of the government was pre- pared to make revolution in the csun- | try's hscal system. a question upon which the next general elections should be de- | clded. This appeal elicted no response on | the part of the government The mem bers trooped out in the lobby to vote against Chaplins amendment, the general comment being "Balfour has saved | Chamberlain"
 The Colonial Secretary, himself Jubl- lant, said: Our friend, the enemy, is nonplussed this time"
 With the exception of some irreconcII- fable malcontents the Unionist Party is greatly relieved by the outcome of the debate, all the members expressing glad ness that he crisis was passed, at the same time believing that the same Cabi- net could not long continue to embrace such opposition on the fiscal policy oi Great Britain as Colonial Secretary | Chamberlain and Chancellor of the Fx. chequer Ritchie.