The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-02-13
LONG SPEECH BY
FORMER PREMIER
Mr.. Balfour "Views With Alarm"
the Present Industrial Condi-
tons of Great Britain.
QUESTION TO BE DECIDED
WELCOMES THE WoRKINGMEN
TO PARLIAM EMIT.

London, Feb 12-Former Premier A. J..
BaIfoUr was the principal speaker at a
banquet given tonight by the cOnserva-
tives in the city of London to Sir Ed
ward Clarke and AIban Gibbs. There were
300 gentlemen present, including q num-
Der Of the most prominent men of the
city. Mr.. Gibbs and Sir Edward Clarke
responded briefly TO the toast Our
Guests
Mr.. BalfOur, whose speech had been an
ticipated with intense interest as his re
ply to Joseph Chamberlain'S prOnuncia-
mento, spoke at great length, combining
himself mainly to fiscal questions. Mr..
BalfOur maintained that the result of the
general election could not be accepted as
final verdict against fiscal reforms. He
declined to argue the question of prOtec-
ton versus free trade. but maintained
that the policy he has hitherto advocated
Is altogether apart from the controversy.
Mr.. BalfOur said his policy was designed
so far as might be, to diminish the burden
on British Industries which is due TO the
tariffs other industrial countries have i'm
posed. In countries where hostile tariffs
did not exist it was the intention to pre-
serve neutral markets and at the same
time preserve the interests of the British
colonies on an equal footing. 1t was,
he said, a policy intended TO maintain an
increased foreign market for British
manufactures. Protection was an attempt
to keep the home market against equal
competition from foreign countries.
World Fighting for Commerce.
Mr.. Balfour said the sentiment favoring
his policy was not decreasing, but increaS-
ing, and unless it were carried out he
believed as the world became moro and
more induStrialized and as civilized ma
tons brought more and more the weaker
nations under control, the question Of
markets for Great Britain would assume
proportions which could not be ignored.
The world saw great nations using not
only diplomatic, but their whole military
and naval force in order to push their
commerce. To fight for British markets
might again be inevitable, but fighting is
a barbarOus method where negotiation
might succeed, and negotiation never
could succeed unless It was backed by
some power of dealing with a country
with whom we might be negotiating if the
terms.
Mr.. BaIfour said he viewed the indus
u1a1 conditions IN the United Kingdom
with the greatest alarm. He said posi-
Oily nations Which built up industries be-
hind tariff walls were acting foolfshly
but nevertheless they did it and the result
undoubtedly was injurious TO the United
NE NLilSuoIh' MI. baIIour asked was 1t pos
Slble to carry out retaliation unless a
general tariff formed a part of the
scheme? He declined to commit himself
on that point, but he said what the coun-
Try had to make up its mind on was the
question: Is the end at which we are
aiming worth making a sacrifice for?
Tariff Reform Delayed.
The cause of tariff reform, Mr. BaIfour
said, must be delayed some years, but in
the meanwhile it was the duty of the on
position to the present government to
point out the mistakes of the latter and
d1rect the country along the best lines
Looking to the future of the country
Continuing, Mr.. Balfour said that never
had government been returned with a
larger majority without a cause which il
VA md yx-ifF,
great personality to guide it; but he was
ready to cOncede the present government
even longer life than five years.
In conclusion Mr. Balfour welcomed
the WOrkingTnen in parliament, but said
he doubted if the present labor represent
tatiOn was destined to introduce iegisI9-
ton beneficial to the country or which
the uniOnists could support