New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-13
MIR. BALFOUR'S POLICY
NEW. OUTLETS FOR TRADE.
Unionist Leader 4gan Shuns Pro
tection-Free Trade Issue.

London, Feb. PA. ]. Balfour's dialeotical
skill has again served him well. and probably
has reinstated him in the leadership of his dim
inished party. He has still to run the gantlet
of the party meeting which has been arranged
to be held at Lansdowne House next Thursday,
but after the speech which he delivered in this
city tonight at a dinner given to Sir Edward
Clarke former Solicitor General. and Alban g.
H. Gibbs who has relinquished his seat in Par
lament in order that Mr.. Balfour may have
another opportunity TO get a place in the House
of Commons it is fairly safe to say that little
further will be heard Of any alternative leader
ship.
While Mr. Baifour's speech fully am
biguous as any of his previous utterances. the
former Premier declined 10 accept the country's
verdict in the recent elections final. He de-
clared himself still for policy of fiscal reform
In terms only trihe more definite than he for
rnerly employed. but which is accepted by the
Chamberlainte organs as "by far the clearest
and most unmistakable utterance Mr.. Balfour
has yet given his countrymen." THE Standard
which headed the movement TO dsplace Mr.. Bal
four from the Unionist leadership. will, in to-
morrows issue, complain of his indefniteness,
.aut viii say: ~@4 .gr -sP--~-ee ~
We are glad to think his speech makes it pos
sible for tariff reformers to accept him as the
leader Of the Unionist party, and paves the way
for unanmty at Thursdays meeting Of the
party.
Mr.. Balfour had hattering reception. He
looked rather tired and worn, but spoke with
great energy. and managed TO please all sections
of the party the gist of his speech being that
the policy he was advocating could not be called
protection, and that as the present government
was in for a long term. there no immediate
necessity of elaborate details of methods to at
tain the end which they all desired.
There were present at the dinner three hun
dred men. Mr.. Gibbs and Sir Edward Clarke
responded briefly to the toast "Our Guests"
Mr. Balfour whose speech had been antici-
pated with intense interest. his reply to
Joseph Chamberlains pronunciamento, spoke at
great length. confining himself mainly to fiscal
questions. Mr.. Balfour maintained that the re-
suits Of the general election could not be ac-
cepted as a final verdict against fiscal reform.
He declined to argue the question of protection
against free trade. but maintained that the
policy which he had hitherto advocated was al
together apart from the controversy. Mr.. Bal
four said his policy designed, as far as
might be- to diminish the burden on British in
dustries In countries where hostile tariffs did
not exist It the intention to preserve neu-
trail markets and at the same time to preserve
the interests Of the British colonies on an equal
footing 1t was, he said. policy intended to
maintain an increased foreign market for Brit
ish manufactures. Protection was an attempt
to keep the home market against equal competi-
ton from foreign countries.
Mr. Balfour said the sentiment favorng his
policy was not diminishing but increasing. and
unless it were carried out he believed. as the
world became more and more industrialized and
as civilized nations brought more and more
weaker nations under control, the question or
markets for Great Britain would assume proper
tions which could not be ignored The world
saw great nations using not only diplomatic but
whole military and naval forces in order to push
their commerce. To fight for British markets
might again be inevitable. but fighting was a
barbarous method where negotiation might sue
ceed and negotiation never could succeed unless
it were backed by some power of dealing with
the country with which the nation might be ne
sotiating If the country asked extravagant or
impossible terms.
Mr. Balfour said he yewed the Industrial con-
ditions in the United Kingdom with the greatest
alarm He said possibly nations which built up
industries behind tariff walls were acting fool
ishly but nevertheless they did it, and the result
undoubtedly was injurious to the United King
dom Mr. Balfour asked IL il would be possible
to carry retaliation unless a general tariff
formed a part of the scheme He declined to
commit himself on that point, but said that the
country had to make up its mind on the question
whether the end aimed at worth making a
sacrifice for.
The cause of tariff reform. Mr. Balfour SAID
must be delayed some years. but in the mean
while IL was the duty of the opposition to the
present government TO point out the mistakes OF
the latter and direct the country along the best
lines looking TO its future
Mr Bafour said that never had government
been returned with q larger majority without a
cause which IL wanted to carry out and without
any great personality TO guide 1t; but he was
ready to concede the present government even
longer life than five years.
In conclusion. Mr.. Balfour welcomed the work.
ing1nen in Parliament. but said he doubted IL
the present labor representation was destined TO
introduce legislation beneficial TO the country or
legislation which the Unionists could support