New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-08
FUTURE OF UNI0NISTS.
TO CALL PARTY MEETING.
Mr. Chamberlain Indicates Plan to
SuppOrt Dir. BMfOur.

London. Feb S.--A. ]. Balfour has finally ac
ceded to Joseph Chamberlains wish that call
be made for a general meeting of the Unonist
party. 1t is expected that the meeting will be
held on February L. though details have
yet been settled. In the mean time Mr.. Cham
berlain has issued important manifesto which,
while accentuating rather than lessening the
party tension, still leaves Mr.. Balfour bridge
over which to cross into the tariff reform camp.
Otherwise. beyond exactly defining Mr.. Cham
berlain's position, the letter leaves matters much
they were before.
The Chamberlainite newspapers this morning
apparently assume that Mr.. Balfour will cross
the bridge for they head Mr. Chamberlain's let
ter The Crisis Ended" A United Party" etc,
and their editorials We're in the same strain. The
suggestion, however is made by The Chronicle
that Mr.. Chamberlain has abandoned the frontal
attack on Mr. Balfour in favor of enveoping
movement in an attempt to capture the party
machinery.
That Mr. Chamberlain has no idea of abandon
ing tariff agitation is shown by his declaration
of an intention to form his own Parliamentary
group In his letter he also suggests that ques-
tions of social reform now arising will require
large revenues. the raising of which may be in
directly connected with tariff policy. This is
regarded as a bid for the support of the
labor party.
Mr.. Chamberlans letter is addressed to Lord
Ridley former Home Secretary. In it he says
All that there is in the question is which
policy the Unionist party proposes to adopt for
tie future. 1t is absolutely untrue that any ulti
matum has been presented to Mr.. Balfour on
this subject, either by me or by any one else.
have asked for meeting of the party in order
that there may be frank and friendly discus
sion of the question, because to it always
seemed essential to successful leadership that
ba
acquainted from time TO time with the views
and wishes Of mis- followers.
Mr.. Chamberlains letter adds that there ap-
pear to be three views in regard to tariff reform
held by different sections of the party. The first
is that tariff reform cannot be question Of
practical politics for some years to come and
should be dropped active policy. This. Mr..
Chamberlain contends, is entirely inconsistent
with Mr. Balfour's language when he said that
tariff reform the first item the construc-
tive programme Of the party and that CONNER
Cial union with the colonies the most urgent
branch of tariff reform. The second view is con-
tained in the suggestion that while not pressing
for tariff reform under existing circumstances
the Unionists should unite on the programme
known as half a sheet of note paper
Between this latter programme and that of
the more advanced tariff reformers there are
two differences The more advanced think that
the probability OF having to place a moderate
duty on the wheat of foreign countries In re-
turn for substantial preferences given by the
colonies 70 British manufacturers should be
frankly admitted and defended, Mr.. Balfour
said that he had no objection to the principle
of such duty but he accepted without pro-
test the statement of a free FODDER that under
no circumstances whether after conference or
not whatever might be the offer of the colo
nies would they assent 10 duty on wheat.
The second point of difference lies in the fact
that the more advanced are of the opinion that
1t is impossible to have a practical and efectlVe
scheme of retaliation against the excessive du-
ties imposed by foreign countries on Brush
,roducts without general tariff. Mr.. Balfour
would never have attempted TO put forward an
alternative scheme, although urged to do so by
the free fooders.
The tariff reformers, Mr.. Chamberlain fur
tber saws believed Mr BaIfour considered the
difference in procedure insignificant and Mr.
Chamberlain hoped that as Mr. Balfour ala not
attach much Importance TO his own point OF
view he would approach closer to Mr.. Chamber
Iatn's
Mr. Chamberlain denies that an attempt was
made 10 impose on Mr.. Balfour as condition
for III. union of the party the exclusion Of those
declining to accept the whole programme OF
the tariff reformers, but he adds that it would
be dishonest to pretend that the free fooders
who while nominally supporting Mr.. Balfour
opposed his policy. in the same boat with
the tariff reformers and retaliationists
Mr.. Chamberlain discusses the reorganization
of the party machinery, contending that II
should be decided whether the organization shall
remain an autocratic and non-representatVe
BODY or whether it ought not to be strictly rep
resentative- of the party as a whole. Answering
the charge that the latter proposal to popularize
the party is equivalent TO an attemst 10 capture
tho machinery for the furtherance of tariff re-
form, Mr. Chamberlain says this is an admis-
,or TINT the party. If popularized. would vote
for tariff reform. This. however" Mr. Chamber
lo,n remarks is a matter which can only be
decided by party meeting. and no doubt will
he one of the principal subjects for discussion
on such an occasion" Further on, Mr.. Chamber
lain says;
NV own belief is that the great majority or
the party II not all. are perfectly ready TO ac-
cent Mr. Balfour's general leadership / think
u probable however. that the majority would
welcome a declaration by Mr.. Balfour which
wouid show clearly that tariff reform VIII not