New-York tribune., 1905-02-17
MR.. BALFOUR'S VICTORY
GOVERNMENT SUSTAINED.
DIR. Asquith's amendment Defeated
bu 81 to els VoteS.

London. Feb 1s-H H Asquths amendment to
the reply to the Speech from the Throne was de-
feated in the House of Commons tonight by
vote OF 81 to 24S This amendment declared that
the various aspects Of the fiscal question have been
fully discussed the country for nearly two years.
and that the time has come for submitting lhe
question to the people without further delay
No particular interest aroused until Wltl4lh
an hour of the time for division, when Sir Henry
Campbell -Bannerman attacked Premier Balfour.
charging that he was afraid to face the Rouse oI
Commons or the country with definite statement
of his position with regard to Mr.. Chamberiains
programme The speaker challenged Mr.. Bafour
to appeaI to the country. and taunted the govern
ment with hlibustering in order to gain time anu
delay inevitable defeat.
Mr. Balfour replied but did not afford the Oppo-
sition the satisfaction of any long explanation Oh
his opinion of Mr.. Chamberlains policy. He SAID
that discussion If prolonged. might possibly dsPel
some fallacies concerning his views and certainty
discussion of the question of the governments
right to negotiate was already having an erect Oh
the attitude of other nations.
During the last hours of the debate the gal
Ieries were crowded. and as division time ap-
preached the interest increased. as this was re-
garded a supreme test OF the governments
strength and standard by which could be meas
ured the probable duration Of the present FarIla-
ment.
Joseph Chamberlain the former Colonial secre-
tary spoke on the amendment this afternoon A
dissolution of Parliament had terrors for him. he
fortune to the workngmen who for thirty years
had placed their confidence in him so generously
In his opinion the dissolution came the
better. He hoped, however, that the government
would not abandon its trust simply because the
Opposition wanted office.
Mr. Chamberlain termed the Oppositions conten-
ton in regard to a dissolution fantastic pre-
tence" The real object of the foolish and ILL
Judged amendment was to create dissension on the
Ministerial side. He had said free trade
ought to be abandoned but that the policy of free
imports ought to be reformed as it stood in the
way of freer trade. There difference between
the Premier and himself regarding the need of
reform the present policy and their only differ
ences were in regard to holding colonial confer
ence-differences of method not of principle
Mr. Chamberlain ridiculed the <oppOsitions
tention that necessary settle the question
because of the effect of the fiscal agitation
trade, pointing out that the whole foundation of
the free trade argument that trade
better A vote of the House OF the
try against his (A1r Chamberlain's) fiscal policy
would not settle the question He had never sup
posed it would obtain immediate acceptance, but
defeat would not prevent him from continuing to
advocate what he believed to be right. He had
already his side the great majority of the great
party, and the necessary recruits would be obtained
from the present reactionartes.
Mr.. Chamberlain concluded with expressing his
belief that colonial conference would be held and
that the colonies would have great deal to offer
He did not pretend that Great Britain should make
concessions without reciprocal treatment and he
did not believe that the British would reject the
offers of their kinsmen or lose great oppor-
tunity. which if not seized. might never recur.